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Annals 



OF 



The Fowler Family 



BEANCHES IN VIRGINIA, 

NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, 

TENNESSEE, KENTUCKY, 

ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, CALIFORNIA, 

AND TEXAS. 



COMPILED AND EDITED BY 

MRS. JAMES JOYCE ARTHUR 

(GLENN DORA FOWLER ARTHUR), 

Member Executive Council Texas State Historical Association, 

a real Daughter of the Republic of Texas, a Daughter 

of the American Revolution, a Colonial 

Dame of America. 



1 . • • •• 



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AUSTIN, TEXAS: 

ate Mn i PffTTT i 
190L 



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Ct « ••••••• •••• • 



Th:e TOBtnnrg nf 
Tow ^instUBti STaiit in ?iattlr, 

Th^tt' NatixiB jL^anri, 
•I gBdiratB 



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"■Can storied urn or animated bust 

Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath? 
Can honoris voice arouse the silent dust; 

Or flattery soothe the dully cold ear of death f 



* * * **in ntm^thtng, by ^rntucr rxnri su^- 
:pItrcttmTi ujttb thanks r^iuing, let gnur requests 
bt mnit knnmn itnto dtod, and t\n ^mtt: nf dtod, 
tubtrh pass:etb all unrirr standing, sball kee;i 
mm bmrts and minds, tbnnigb (Cbrist ^Icsns. 

* * * **TOTatsQcucr tbings arc true, mbat- 
soeti^r things arc honest, uihatsueuer things 
ar:e just, xuhatsn:Etr£r things are pure, mbat- 
sn^uer things are loueb, xtjliatsneurr things 
are of good re^iort; if there be anii uirtue, and 
if there be ani) :praise, think on thrse things'' 
—and do them!— **and the (Sod of ^eare shall 
tomitb gDn,''and gonr names njill ht ixjritt:en 
in the Book of yf e. 



COJXTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. Anthentic Notes on the Earliest Fowlers of 
Virginia; John Fowler the First in America (?); Godfrey 
Fowler the First — His Will; Military Services of Fowlers 
in Virginia; Marriage Records 1-18 

CHAPTER IT. Joseph Fowler the i^irst ot Wake County, 
North Carolina: His Will and Descendants; Godfrey Fowler, 
8r.; Di\d'^ion of His Lands: Military Services of Captain 
William Anderson Fowler and Ensign (xodfrey Fowler (Sr.) 
in the Colonv of North Carolina, 1772-1773 19-20 

CHAPTER III. Descendants of Rev. David Fowler of Harde- 
man County, Tennessee. Interesting Old Papers Belong- 
ing to His Descendants 27-53 

CHAPTER IV. Descendants of Rev. John Fowler of Biouni 

County, Alabama ; Some Verser Data 54-60 

CHAPTER V. Descendants of Godfrey Fowler of near Prince- 
ton, Caldwell County, Kentucky; Families of John Hopkins 
Fowler of Red River and Lamar Counties, Texas, and of 
Joseph Wright Fowler of Princeton, Ky., and Yreka, Cal. . 61-83 

CHAPTER VI. Descendants of Judge Wiley Paul Fowler of 
Princeton and Smithland, Ky.; His Sons Dixon Given, Joseph 
Henry, Littleton Augustus of Paducah, Ky 84-112 

CHAPTER VII. Descendants of Rev. Littleton Fowler of 
Kentucky and the Republic of Texas; His Son, the Rev. 
Littleton Morris Fowler, and His Daughter, Mrs. Mary 
Pitt (Fowler) Smith 113-157 

CHAPTER VIII. Descendants of Mrs. Polly Ann (Fowler) 

Wilson of Trigg County, Kentucky 158-166 

CHAPTE:^ IX. Descendants of Judge Andrew^ Jackson Fow- 
ler of the Republic and the State of Texas 167-192 

CHAPTER X. Extracts from Jom^nals and Letters of the 

Rev. Littleton Fowler, Missionary to the Repviblic of Texas . 194-234 

CHAPTER XL Descendants of Bullard Fowler of Wake 
County, North Carolina: Godfrev Fowl'pr of Blount County, 
Alabama * 235-245 

CHAPTER XII. Descendants of William Fowler of Henry 
County, Tennessee; Joseph Fowler and Family of Wake 
County, North Carolina '. 246-274 

CHAPTER XIIL Descendants of Martha (Fowler) Vaden of 

Amelia County, Virginia 275-278 

CHAPTER XIV. Descendants of Ellis Fowler of Virginia; 
Hon. Godfrey B. Fowler of Jonesville, Union County, South 
Carolina ,279-286 

CHAPTER XV. Descendants of Alexander Fowler and Sher- 
wood Fowler of Virginia (Brothers); Family of THiomas 
Fowler of Virginia 287-312 

CHAPTER XVL Early Kentucky Fowlers from Virginia. . .313-317 



APPENDIX. 

Fowler Genealogy 319 

Miscellaneous Sketches of Fowlers 322-325 

The Familv of Claiborne Wrioht in Texas 319-322 

Farewell .". 327 

List of Subscribers to "The Annals of the Fowler Family" 325-.327 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Pioneer Home of Godfrey Fmvler near Princeton, Caldwell 
County, Ky., 1806. Frontispiece. 

Map of Lands of John and Godfrey Fowler on Appomattox 

River, Virginia 2 

Map of Lands of Godfrey Fowler, Sr., Wake County, North 

Carolina "" 25 

Portraits of Joseph Taylor Fowler, Panola County, Mississippi 
(Autograph), and John Willis Fowler, Memphis, Tenn. 
( Autograph ) 27 

Portrait Col. John Hopkins Fowler, Paris, Texas. (Auto- 
graph) 61 

Portrait Mrs. Sue Clara (Fowler) Peterson, Paris, Texas.... 65 

Portrait Littleton Fowler, Princeton, Ky., with Two Ladies. . 73 

Portrait Judge Wiley Paul Fowler of Kentucky. (Autograph) . 84 

Portrait Mrs. Clara Given (Fowler) Warneken, Clarksville, 

Tenn. (Autograph) <)3 

Home of Mrs. Littleton Augustus Fowler, Peducah, Ky 110 

Portrait Rev. Littleton Fowler, Republic of Texas. (Auto- 
graph) 113 

Group — Mrs. Taylor, J. L. Fowler, J. H. Fowler, L. M. Fowler. 151 

Group— W. C. Wilson, Mrs. Chappell, Mrs. W. A. Arthur, H. B. 

Fowler . . 158 

Home of Thomas B. Wilson, Trigg County, Kentucky, 1846.. 106 

Portrait Judge Andrev\' Jackson Fowler, Palestine, Texas. 

(Autograph) 1G7 

Commission of A. j. Fowler, Republic of 'iexas 175 

Portrait Miss Nora Estelle Fowler, Paris, Texas 194 

Portrait Mrs. Dorothy (Fowler) Gibbons, the Little Bride, 

Paris, Texas 213 

Portrait Godfrey Fowler (Autograph) and Wife, Blount 

County, Alabama 235 

Portrait Joseph Fowler (Autograph) and Wife, Wake County, 

North Carolina .\ 246 

Home of William Fowler near Paris, Tenn. Settled 1826; Re- 
built 1845 246 

Portrait Ernesit Howell Chalkley, Richmond, Va. (Auto- 
graph) 275 

Group — Hon. vjodirey Fowler, Mrs. Holding, Mrs. Norton, J. J. 
iBrown 281 

Portrait Mrs. Glenn, Hons. T. G. and I. C. Fowler, ^Vli's. J. J. 

Arthur 287 

Miss Laura Fov.ler, Palestine, Texas; Cline Wilson, Russell- 

ville, Ky 317 



(ii) 



PREFACE. 



More than four years since the Keverend Littleton Morris 
Fowler of Palestine, Texas, gave into my keeping the journals 
and letters of his father, the Eeverend Littleton Fowler, who 
was a Methodist missionary to the Eepublic of Texas, superin- 
tendent of the Texas Mission, and presiding elder of the 
Texas Conference of the Texas Republic. I immediately 
began the labor of compiling and editing "Early Methodism 
in the Republic of Texas, from the Letters of the Reverend 
Littleton Fowler," when I became impressed with the import- 
ance .of the family data of births, marriages, and deaths con- 
tained in the many family letters so well preserved. An irre- 
sistible wish to further preserve the interesting facts made 
me turn aside to the work of a family record, and the training 
in accuracy of detail thus obtained will prove invaluable in 
the work originally contemplated. 

In the preparation of family annals mistakes are inevitable. 
In nearly all instances I have had my information directly 
from some member of the family herein represented; there- 
fore, if errors have crept in T should not be held responsible; 
my informant should bear the blame. Could I have known 
what the inaccuracies are, I might have been able to have 
had them corrected. As it is, in all data tendered me I have 
honestly endeavored to keep strictly to the text. 

I am under grateful obligations to the following named 
relatives for timely and encouraging assistance : The Rev- 
erend Littleton M. Fowler, for obvious reasons ; Mrs. Wm. A. 
Arthur of Texarkana, Texas, and Mrs. Rosa Fowler Allen of 
Forestville, Wake County, Xorth Carolina; also Mrs. Joseph 
H. Fowler and her daughter Mattie of Paducah, Ky. ; Mrs. 
Ginsey Cosby (Fowler) Taylor of San Jose, Cal. ; Mr. Em- 
mett W. Smith of Nacogdoches, Texas; the Honorables 
Godfrey B. Fowler of South Carolina, I. C. Fowler of Abing- 
don, Va., and Thcophilus Gilliam Fowler of IJniontown, 
Ala. ; little cousin Laura Fowler of Palestine, Texas. 



iv PREFACE. 



It gives me pleasure to especially mention Mr. Ernest H. 
Chalkley of Eiehmond, Va., whose interest and aid have 
enabled me to go back on the early Virginia Fowler line to 
mine and his earliest known Fowler ancestor of that colony. 
Such kindness as his should have the appreciation of the 
entire family. The same gratitude should be freely given to 
Mr. Cline Wilson, our young family artist, of Russellville, 
Ky., who has laboriously but artistically worked over dim and 
fading pictures for some of our illustrations, making them 
clear and pleasing with his finished skill. His labor, like my 
own, has been given without money or price, and is purely a 
labor of love for the family record. May he live up to his 
ideal in the art world, and may added years bring him happy 
success. 

I feel sure that I shall be kindly pardoned by you the ex- 
pression of my private and lieartfelt thanks to my husband, 
who has encouraged me all the way, — which has often been 
long and dreary, — with kindly words and the material help 
of a dollar or two when nothing else could have turned a 
wheel. To every kinsman and kinswoman v/ho has cour- 
teously and painstakingly replied to my letters of interested 
inquiry I now gladly give my sincere and heartfelt thanks, 
together with the thanks of the entire kindred, for without 
such help this family record would have been impossible. 

Had I possessed the requisite means for genealogical re- 
search I feel sure I could have traced the Fowler family back 
to the mother countr}^, old England. As it is, it can l)e said 
of me, "She hath done what she could.^^ This book, in which 
I have put so much of my life, my affections, my yearnings 
for a nobler manhood and womanhood of our blood in this 
generation and the generations to come, is my only heir to 
perpetuate my memory after I shall have been gathered to 
my fathers. May it inspire the good to be better and the 
bad to turn to the right living. May God in His bountiful 
mercy bless and help us all. Amen. 

Glenn Dora Fowler Artiiljr. 
Austin, Texas, July, 1901. 



PREFACE. 



COINXERmNG THE ILLUSTRATIONS. 

You who have never attempted to write a family record 
have no conception of the many difficulties I have labored 
under in the task I voluntarily set myself to do. I have not 
tried to please myself in a single instance, except in the trust- 
worthiness of the subject matter. The approximate accuracy, 
in instances too many to mention, has been attained ofttime 
in repeated questioning of several persons as to the same date 
or event. Please be merciful and do not find fault with me 
wlierein I failed in the lack of trustworthy witnesses, but be 
generous, put yourself in my place, and applaud me for hav- 
ing done as conscientiously and as well as I have under the 
trying circumstances. I am well aware that there are always 
some knowing ones — even in our family — who could have 
done better themselves, and to them I have only to say that 
the field of genealogical research in the Fowler family is 
ripe for the harvest and they are welcome to enter and labor, 
and should be worthy of their hire. Mine has been purely a 
labor of love, and no one else seemed ready or willing. 

The matter of family portraits has puzzled me greatly, for 
I have conscientiously wished to do justice to all branches of 
the family herein represented. The more prominent members 
are given place for reasons obvious to the most superficial. 
Other portraits are put in by private subscription, which is 
perfectly fair and right, because the cost of the book is largely 
augmented in the illustrations, as all of you know — all who 
have written books, I mean. 

Mr. Cline Wilson sketched the old Fowler home near 
Princeton, Ky., the pioneer home of the founder of the family 
of that State. He also did the Wilson home in Trigg County, 
Kentucky, and I presume that the reason he sketched the rear 
was on account of the thick screen of evergreens in the froiif. 
Furthermore, he made India ink reproductions of Joseph F. 
and wife, Godfrey F. and wife, Littleton F., and A. Jack- 
son F. 



PREFACE. 



Some pictures were earnestly sought and never gotten, as 
in the case of Mrs. Polly Ann (Fowler) Wilson, the grand- 
mother of the young artist. She was the only daughter of 
the pioneer Kentucky home t nd of course very much beloved 
by all her family. Her portrait is known to be in existence, 
but could not be gotten for any consideration. Other pictures 
proved too unsatisfactory to give pleasure to anyone, and 
others still could not be put in the book owing to the added 
cost, for v\"hich there vras no provision made. I have tried 
to do the l-'est vrith the pictures and means at hand. I have 
taken in lateial branches to make the record interesting to a 
larger circle of readers. 

My only reason for allowing my own picture to go in the 
record is because it has been solicited by so many since T 
began this work that I decided it was the easiest way to send 
it to all interested. And please let me say that I have in- 
dividually met the cost of it just the same as if it had been 
sent in the usual way. I am more painfully aware than any 
of you can be that 1 am only a plain every-day sort of a 
woman, with no beauty or genius to plead for me, but if 
misery loves company — and 1 have heard that it does — I have 
only to remind you that I am not alone in the family, as I 
would be were I a genius or a flawless beauty. 

I have been more than anxious to obtain for the record 
several pictures of old family homes, for a man's home is an 
index to his character. In this era of restlessness and change 
of place, few persons love and revere as they should the old 
roof-tree of their birth and early childhood. I believe that 
all children should live in the country at least a part of the 
year, and in that country home should be treasured the idols 
of their childhood, such as books, games, pictures, and flow- 
ers, so that in after years the sad or weary man or woman 
could return as often as possible for seasons of enjoyment of 
that childhood's paradise, v/ith all its innocent and softening 
associations. 

Through the kindness of Mr. Greer of Paris, Tenn., I have 
obtained a picture of the old and commodious home of Wil- 



PREFACE. vii 



liam Fowler, on Fowler Hill near Paris, Tenn. The Texas 
homes are always being torn down to make way for newer 
and more pretentions ones, and hence there are few old in- 
teresting landmarks left to the modern kodak and the devoted 
descendant. Miss Irene Fowler Brown of Buntyn, Tenn., — a 
suburb of Memphis, — has written me that the old home of 
Col. John W. Fowler of Memphis is still well preserved and 
one of the noticeable old homes of that city, but I have failed 
in my endeavor to get it for our record. 

The elegant old home of Judge W. P. Fowler and family, 
on the bank of the Ohio River near Smithland, Ky., would 
have made an ideal picture of the homes of the old South, 
but alas I it has long since been lost in flame and smoke and 
no picture is left to posterity. Please let me try to describe 
it as it hangs in the picture gallery of my girlhood^s memory : 
A rambling old white house with green blinds on a bold bluff 
overlooking the beautiful Ohio, with a broad sweep of verdant 
lawn overshadowed by spreading elms, these noble trees giving 
the home its name, ''Mount Elm.'^ The front of the house 
was one story and the rear was two, so suddenly did the 
eminence of the bluff recede toward fields and meadows. The 
interior was even more interesting than the exterior, for 
everything was old, elegant, and rich in memories of other 
days "befo^ de waw." The master was a courtly old Kentucky 
gentleman and the mistress was an aristocrat of the old 
South, both fit dw^ellers of that ideal old Southern home. 

The home of the family of Mr. "Gus'' Fowler of Paducah, 
Ky., is attractive enough to need no other reason for being 
given a place. It is my own property and I put it in the 
book. 

Among our representative men I wish to see our representa- 
tive women, some of whom represent sweetness and strength 
of character, with elegance and culture, and others are dis- 
tinguished for beauty of person. N'o family can afford to be 
without its beauties or its prominent men. 



INTRODUCTION. 



If any descendant of John Fowier the First should read 
these pages with the proud hope that he might here find 
record, elaborate and embellished, of a soft-handed, silk- 
stockinged and titled ancestry, he will reap only a bitter 
disappointment, for all evidence found in my family research 
tends toward the facts of a plain and unostentatious people 
who were industrious, honesi, and law-abiding. I am led to 
believe that they possessed these shining Christian virtues 
because their descendants have in a great measure inherited 
these important characteristics.^^espectability, with willing 
hands and clean hearts, are our richest and highest inherit- 
ance. I am glad to learn that they were early heads of 
families and were home-builders; that they owned lands and 
were as educated as their neighbors, as self-respecting and 
well-to-do ; and — best of all — that they were moral and God- 
fearing. ^ 

The coming of John the First to America from old Eng- 
land is lost to us in the mists of the past, but copied record 
shows that he was in the Virginia colony by 1662, for he 
received that year grants of lands on the Appomattoc/1'5 River. 
In 1673 he received another grant of land, from Sir William 
Berkley, Knight, Governor, for the importation and trans- 
portation of eight persons to the colony of Virginia. By 
1683 he had died, leaving three sons who were minors, — John, 
Mark, and Godfrey, — the youngest finally surviving his 
brothers. To these Appomattox lands inherited from his 
father, Godfrey added others, one grant being from A. 
Spottswood, 1717. Godfrey's will, dated June 29, 1743, 
shows that he had a son Joseph who had received his portion 
and moved away, so our Joseph the First might possibly have 
gone to the colony of North Carolina as early as that date. 
Subsequent testimony proves that many of Joseph's children 
who accompanied him to North Carolina were grown before 
leaving Virginia. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Tlie families of John and his son Godfrey must have lived 
in simple and unpretentious comfort on "Old Town Eunn/"^ 
nearer Petersburg than Eichmond. Godfrey the Second, son 
of Godfrey the First, became a Quaker, with other Fowler 
kindred in that part of the colony. There were many of the 
name in tide-water Virginia, but we now have no way of 
knowing how closely the many families were allied. There 
is rather a pretty but sad tradition in my maternal Fowler 
line, the line of Sherwood Fowler, which is distinguished by 
the given name of Alexander. This story runs that a I'owler 
of England, who was a silk weaver and merchant, won the 
affections and hand in marriage of a daughter of the noble 
Douglas family of Stirling Castle, Scotland. It is told that 
Fowler stole his bride with as much spirit as a Scottish noble- 
man would have done, such a doughty Lochinvar was he. The 
sad part of the story was the early death of the young wife, — 
who was beautiful, of course, as all young ladies were who 
"dwelt in castle halls,'' — leaving a babe, a manchild, to per- 
petuate her sad memory. If the romance is true, — and I 
have no reasons for doubting it, — 1 am inclined to believe 
that the Lieutenant Alexander Fowler of the "King's Foot'' 
of the colony of Virginia during the French and Indian wars, 
was the son of this high-born Scottish lady, for the tradition 
says that he came to America when 19 years of age, an'd that 
he had many half brothers and sisters, some of whom may 
have followed him to the new country. 

However, we know that near the forest of Wake, on the 
waters of Little Eiver, Joseph Fowler kindled his hearth- 
stone fires and set up his household gods in the wilderness of 
a wild and unknown country. He had children and slaves, 
with acres sufficient, and there he labored, planned, and 
hoped for this life; there he sickened and died, leaving all 
for the heavenly reward of a servant faithful over a few 
things — I reverently hope and believe. Let us hope, too, that 
he died full of years and simple honors, wiih a conscience 
void of offense toward his fellow-man. His name, which may 
have been handed down to him from generation to generation, 



INTRODUCTION. <Bi 



still runs through the ages. May the bearers of it prove 
worthy. 

Mediocrity may be our family brand in iVmerica; there is 
ho record — as far as our investigations have gone — of a 
towering genius, neither of any noted criminal. Xo doubt, 
that "black sheep" have been found in the Fowler flocks 
— what family has not its prodigal son, its hideous skeleton 
in the closet? Such have fallen to all to teach humility in 
our own blood and sweet charity for the infirmities of the 
fiesh and the spirit in others, in our neighbors' families. 
Aside from these earthly clogs, the humblest may possess 
the pride and power to strive to reach out after and attain 
the best and highest that one of the blood and name has ever 
done, and ever to frown down and condemn the worst, show- 
ing mercy to family infirmities while giving unqualified dis- 
approval of the crimes. 

The study of the origin of surnames is always interesting, 
no matter liov/ much romance may be called into play. The 
name of Fowler means a bird-hunter, one who sets snares 
for fowls. Away back in the delightfully dim and vague 
past, — say in the time of the good King Alfred, — our forbears 
may have been simple peasants ensnaring birds for the king's 
household, just as the very respectable Fishers of this age 
may h'ave been the king's servants vvho daily angled for the 
royal table. While knights and courtiers smiled, flattered, 
and fawned, hanging on princes' favors, our Fowlers were 
b'rought in constant touch with nature and her children. 
Then why should the}^ not have become pure-hearted and 
clean-handed ? It is piously hoped that the slaughtering of 
the feathered innocents was left to the cooks, thus keeping 
the hearts of the bird-catchers childlike and tender ; yet great 
gentlemen have killed and mangled beautiful songsters for 
sporty through innumerable ages, and continually assert that 
such bloody work has not hardened their hearts in the least 
degree; and they seem to find still a fiendish pleasure in 
striving to see how many tuneful throats they can silence 
in a single day. 



INTRODUCTION. 



There is a Fowler coat-of-arms which was granted to one 
Richard Fowler for valiant deeds in the Wars of the Crusades, 
by Richard, the Lion-hearted, in 1191. Here is a description 
and drawing of the same, kindly given by Mr. Charles Evan 
.Fowler of Youngstown, Ohio, who found it in "The Fowler 
Family, Descendants of Philip and Mary Fowler of Ipswich, 
Conn. Record from 1590 to 1882, by M. A. Stickney :" "A 
blue shield surmounted by a silver owl vigilant, wearing a 
golden croAvn; three golden lions guardant, two on upper part 
of shield, one on lower; silver chevron, on which are three 
Greek crosses sable.^' Now, as our knowledge of our ^'clan'' 
of the name goes back only a few generations, we have no 
proof of our right by inheritance to the use of this escutch- 
eon; therefore, we merely gi\c it as an object of interest in 
this record, and lay no pretentious claims, as so many other- 
wise sensible folk have done m other cases, with no stronger 
proofs, if the truth were known. Had I been able to consult 
some of tlie Fowler genealogies on record I might have been 
fortunate enough to find a connecting link, for all of the 
American families of the name came from old England, with- 
out a doubt. 

It is more than interesting, in this connection, to note 
some of the names who have distinguished themselves in the 
old world and America, as Ic^llows : ^Charles Fowler, born 
i;92, English architect; Christopher Fowler, born 1611, died 
1676, English Puritan controversialist (he must have been 
an ancestor of ours) ; Edward Fowler, Bishop of Gloucester 
in 1691, born 1632, died 1714; Frank Fowler, born 1833, 
English journalist; John Fowler, born 153a^ died 1579, Eng- 
lish printer; John Fowler, born 1817, English civil engineer; 
Lydia Folger Fowler, American female lecturer and physi- 
cian, 1848; Moses Fowler, English divine, died 1608; Orson 
Squire Fowler, born 1809, American phrenologist and author ; 
Robert Fowler, bishop of Killaloe and Kilfenora in 1771, 
archbishop of Dublin 1779, died 1801; Robert Fowler, bishop 

^From Phillips' "Great Index of Biographical Reference." 



INTRODUCTION. xUi 



of Ossory 1813, died 1841 ; Eobert Nicholas Fowler, born 
1825, English politician; Thomas Fowler, born 1736, died 
1801, English medical author; William Fowler, Scottish 
poet, 1603; William Fowler, born 1828, English politician; 
Charles H. Fowler, bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church 
of the United States; Frank Fowler, American artist; Abijah 
and Josiah Fowler of Tennessee, authors of the Fowler 
Arithmetic, 1821:, which texi-book was much used in Ten- 
nessee and Virginia. Littleton Fowler, 1802-1846, should 
find place here also, for biographical sketches of him are 
found in many books, both religious and secular; he was 
a Methodist missionary to the Eepublic of Texas 1837-1846. 

Some of the natural characteristics of our particular 
branch of the large Fowler family are: Tall and erect 
figures, with easy and graceful carriage; a lofty and noble 
brow, the pride of many generations; shapely hands and 
feet, in many instances ; fine, thin hair, most frequently light 
in color; large English teeth, sometimes turning outward; 
mild gray eyes, but when dark, keen and full of fire; voices 
full of power and ofttimes very musical; little self-seeking, 
or reaching out for personal power; a singular freedom from 
brag and vulgar show; emphatic impatience with plots, 
schemes, and intrigues, with impudent and cold independence 
toward party "'bosses" and whippers-in; love for honesty, 
truth, l)cnevolence, and all things good and noble taught 
in the Christian religion; fondness for study and the best 
books, much sociability and adaptability with others; highly 
nervous temperament, with a painful sensitiveness of nature ; 
an honest hatred of deceit and duplicity, with many faults 
to offset some of their finest virtues. To sum up, they are 
very human and every-day folk. 

If this record could inspire the living to live up to the 
noble lines of Channing, I would not have writ in vain : 



INTRODUCTION. 



"To live content with small raeons; 
To seek elegance rather than luxury, 
And refinement rather than fashion; 
To be worthy, not respectable; 

And wealthy, not rich; 
To study hard, think quietly. 

Talk gently, act frankly; 
To listen to stars and birds, 
To babes and sages. 

With open heart. 
To bear ail cheerfully. 

Do all bravely, await occasions. 

Hurry never; 
In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious. 

Grow up through the common. 
This is to be mj^ symphony."' 

Let this be our guide and iuspiratiou, together with the 
teachings of our Lord, the Christ. 

In the appendix are titles and authors of genealogies of 
Fowlers, most courteously given me by the before-mentioned 
Mr. Charles Evan Fowler of Youngstown, Ohio, who is a 
civil engineer by profession, also an interested student of his 
own "pedigree," being generous to give aid to others in the 
same quest of ancestors with himself. I have not been 
financially able to get the books — any of them — mentioned 
by Mr. Fowler; my researches have been limited to letters 
from the eldest descendants of "our Joseph,"' with extraneous 
aid in the instance of Mr. S. A. Ashe, genealogist, of Raleigh, 
IS"". C, who had access to the original records of Wake 
County. He was recommended by Dr. Kemp T. Battle, then 
president of the North Carolina Historical Society, and I 
found Mr. Ashe all that could be desired in a gentleman, 
as well as in one of his profession. 

One year ago I had the pleasure of hearing Bishop Fowler 
preach in Austin, Texas, and I was forcibly impressed with 
his marked resemblance to my father, as w^ere others in the 
congregation. Could it have been that the name set on the 
same train of thought in the minds of all of us ? 

In conversation with the bishop, who is an intellectual 
giant, he said to me, "You have my family's facial character- 
istics.'' In a letter received since from him, he promised to 



INTRODUCTION. XV 



send me the name of the publisher of his family tree, but, 
in the weightier affairs of his King, he forgot his promise 
in this little matter, for, as "Sam Jones" quaintly expresses 
it, he "is more concerned about where he is going than 
whence he came." This should be the chief concern of us all, 
it is very true, but it is a deal of comfort to me to know 
that my ancestors, as far as traceable in this record, were 
worthy, self-respecting, law-abiding citizens, rather than 
indented servants in Virginia, or released felons from Eng- 
lish prisons, who found refuge in jSTorth Carolina in its early 
settlement. 

Some one has said regarding ancestry, "One would better 
let sleeping dogs lie," meaning that an agitation of the 
sleeping memories might disclose facts one would not like to 
know; and another wag has said that many a descendant of 
illustrious families should be hanged on the strongest 
branch of his family tree. Granting this to be forcible truth, 
I began my search with a brave heart for any disclosures; if 
I should find myself of low-born ancestry, I wished to study 
the evolution of the generations; if high-born, I wished to 
make a critical survey of the dominating characteristics 
throughout the ages. I have never wished for but two dis- 
tinctions of blood, — intellectual and spiritual strength. 
Surely I will be pardoned that weakness, if it be a weakness. 
I am natural enough to wisli to find all our women chaste 
and fair, and all our men handsome and brave, but, as that 
is impossible in any famih^ I choose the Christian virtues, 
together with a heart and an arm to dare and do the right. 

THE soul's divine INHERITANCE. 

"There is no thing we can not overcome. 

Say not thy evil instinct is inherited, 
Or that some trait inborn makes thy whole life forlorn, 

And calls down punishment that is not merited. 
Back of thy parents and grandparents lies 

The great Eternal Will! That, too, is thine 

Inheritance, strong, beautiful, divine; 
Sure lever of success for one who tries. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Pry up thy fault Avitli this great lever— Will, 

However deeply bedded in propensity, 
However firmly set, I tell thee, firmer yet 

Is that vast power that comes from Truth's immensity. 
Thou art a part of that strange \voT\d, I say; 

Its forces lie within thee, stronger far 

Than all thy mortal sins and frailties are. 
Believe thyself divine, and watch and pray. 



There is no noble height thou canst not climb; 

All triumphs may be thine in Time's futurity. 
If, whatso'er thy fault, thou dost not faint or halt 

But lean upon the staff of God's security. 
Earth has no claim the soul can not contest; 

Know thyself part of the Eternal Source; 

Naught can stand before thy spirit's force; 
The soul's Divine Inheritance is best." 



[Ella Wheeler Wilcox. 



"And good may ever conquer ill , 
Health walk where pain has trod; 
'As a man thinketh, so is he.' 
Rise, then, and think with God.'' 



CHAPTER I. 

NOTES ON THE EARLIEST FOWLERS OF VIRGINIA. 

"Only the wise man feels the beauty, the dignity, and the value 
of life. The flowers of youth may fade, but the summer, the autumn, 
even the winter of human existence, have their majestic grandeur, 
which the wise man recognizes and glorifies. To see all things in 
God; to make of one's life a journey toward the ideal; to live with 
gratitude, with devoutness, with gentleness and courage. And if you 
add to it the humility which kneels and the charity which gives, 
you have the whole wisdom of tne children of God, the immortal joy 
which is the heritage of the true Christian." — \Amiel. 

For the following information I 'am deeply indebted to 
Mr. Ernest H. Chalkley, tQ^Tnef^ot Baltimore, Md., latterly" 
of Eichmond, Ya., fo;;.^is interest and painstaking care in 
searching and ha^^^ng searched the early records accessible in 
Henrico and 'Chesterfield counties. Mr. Chalkley is de- 
scended in his maternal line from JOHN FOWLER THE 
FIRST OF APPOMATTOX RIVER, and had his FoAvler 
line already traced back to our John the First when I first 
commnnicated with him, bnt he went over all the ground 
again for me when he learned that I wished the information 
to go in a permanent record of the Fowler family. I am 
first indebted to Mrs. Mattie (Wilson) Chappell of Cadiz, 
Ky., for calling my attention to Fowlers in the Chappell 
genealogy, which information enabled me to find Mr. Chalk- 
ley. 

N'ote I, volume ^, page 12, Land Grants of the Colony of 
Virginia. January 3, 1655 : "750 acres of land in James 
Cittie (shire), granted to John Coale for the transportation 
of fifteen persons, to wit: Francis Salter, Thos. Edes, Ger. 
Byham, Jer. Throne, JOH]N' FOWLER, Thos. Fay, James 
Wrier, RoVt Mastley, Jeffrey Speed, Bar. Still, Hugh Jaffers, 
&c." There is no way of proving positively that this is our 
JOHN FOWLER THE FIRST, but ensuing notes throw 
more light on the subject. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



Note II. JOHN FOWLER, 390 acres, volume 6, page 
485 : "To all &c.— know ye that the Sir William Berkley, 
Zt. Governor, give and grant unto JOHN FOWLER 390 
acres of land, 200 hundred thereof lying on the north side 

of the Appomattocks River in County [illegible, but 

known to be Henrico], and adjoining said Fowler, his land, 
and running [here follows the survey] "along the Old Town 



HENRICO CCUNTY ^ 




HAflLES 



\ 



A John Fowler, Patented 1673 

B Patented by Godfrey Fowler, 1724 

C Patented by Godfrey Fowler, 1724. 

Runn to the Plane Ford— &c.-— "and 190 acres Ivin^ on 
the north side of Old Town Creek in the county aforesaid, 
on the north side of Appomattocks River.'' [Here follows 
the survey.] "The said land to said Fowler to have and to 
hold for the transportation of eight persons, to wit: Jno 

Baxter, Mary Poolan, Rob't C , Thos. Wooley, Mary, his 

wife, ^ Paul Varden, Clara Varden, Anne Welle. Oct. 30, 
1673.'' Now we know beyond a doubt that this is our JOHN 
THE FIRST in the evidence of subsequent deeds and wills. 
The next note proves that there was an earlier grant, in 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



1662, as the foregoing says, "adjoining said Fowler, his 
land." 

Note III. Henrico Deeds, page 379, Feb. 1, 1692. Deed 
of Godfrey Fowler, planter, to John Wilson, both of Bristol 
Parish, Henrico County, 100 acres on the north side of Old 
Town Creek, &c., "being part of a patent to JOHN 
FOWLER, father of Godfrey, Sept. 12, 1662, James Cittie." 
Mr. Chalkley thinks there is no record extant of the earlier 
patent, otherwise than here - alluded to, or of the will of 
JOHN FOWLER THE FIRST, elsewhere mentioned. 

Note IV., page 487, Henrico Deed Book, Oct. 1, 1687. 
"Mark Fowler, son and heir of JOHN FOWLER, deceased, 
of Henrico County, 200 acres lying on Old Town Creek and 
devised by him the said John Fowler, to his son Mark, trans- 
ferred by deed to Thos. Batt, Oct. 1, 1687.'' We know that 
JOHN FOWLER THE FIRST was dead before 1683, by the 
following : 

NOTES ON GODFREY FOWLER THE FIRST OF VIRGINIA. 

"Henrico County Records, Orphan's Court-Book, page 393, 
1683. John Davis appointed guardian of Orphans of JOHN 
FOWLER, deceased, also appraiser of cattle. Orphans 
named John, Godfrey, and Mark. On April 4, 1685, Mark 
released John Davis of all claims he had on the estate of 
John Fowler, his father, deceased. Godfrey Fowler was 
ordered to appear at the next term of court to show cause 
why the court should not be discharged from what estate 
his father, John Fowler, deceased, had left him. Court was 
discharged Oct. 2, 1693." Thus we know that JOHN 
FOWLER THE FIRST was dead before or in 1683, and 
that Mark had attained his majority in 1685. 

Note II. Godfrey Fowkr vs. Thos. Batt, June 1, 1691. 
"A copy of the will of John Fowler the elder, deceased, was 
produced in court, which will gave each of his three sons, 
John, Mark, and Godfrey, an interest in the estate of 398 
acres. The said Godfrey Fowler's two elder brothers, John 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



and Mark, being dead, leaving no issue, the said Godfrey 
Fowler was declared the only heir at law/^ This shows that 
GODFREY FOWLEE THE FIEST was of age by 1691; if 
correct in this surmise, he was born in Virginia, in Henrico 
County, 1670. 

:N'ote III. Henrico County Deeds, page 618, Feb., 1695. 
"Deed from Godfrey Fowler, planter (and signed by his 
wife, Susannah) to John Wilson, Sr., 50 acres. All parties 
to the transfer were of Bristol Parish, Henrico County.'^ 
This is proof that Godfrey was married by the year 1695. 

Note IV. "To Godfrey Fowler and George Archer 500 
acres of land, Jan. 22, 1717. Henrico Land Grants, vol. 10, 
p. 347 (?) or 341. To all whom it may concern, know ye 
that for good causes and considerations, but especially in the 
importation of ten persons to dwell within our Colony and 
Dominion of Virginia, to wit, John Ironmonger, Philip 
Donalson, AVilliam Stiles, Matthew Ford, Jno. Ellington, 
Margaret Brook, Sue Fowler, Francis Merryman, Sarah 
Green, Flionoy Dawson, we have given and granted and con- 
firmed and by these presents do give and grant onto Godfrey 
Fowler and George Archer one certain tract of Land contain- 
ing 500 acres, lying and being om the north side of Appo- 
mattox River in the Parish of Bristol in the county of Hen- 
rico, and bounded as follows — Beginning at a corner butter- 
wood tree and the line of Col Epes & Company and runneth 
thence along the line of Wm. Taylor,*' &c., — "thence on the 
line of John Parkenson — crossing Cattail Creek at the fork 
— thence to a black oak on -the line of Col. Epes & Company, 
to have and to hold, &c. (Signed) A. Spottswood.'' 

^^ote V. July 9, 1724, 300. Vol. 12, p. 8. "To all whom 
it may concern — Know ye that for divers good causes and 
considerations but more especially for and in consideration 
of the sum of Thirty Shillings of good and lawful money 
for our use paid to our Receiver General of our Revenue in 
this our Colony and Dominion of Virginia, we have given, 
g'ranted and confirmed to Godfrey Fowler one certain tract 
of land containing 300 acres, lying and being in Henrico 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



County on the north side of the Appomattox Eiver, bounded 
as follows :^^ [Unsigned — overlooked by the copyist, I pre- 
sume; a fact much to be regretted.] 

Note Y. "To Godfrey Fowler 400 acres on north side of 
Appomattox Eiver, County of Henrico, Aug. 17, 1725." 
These entries go to establish the fact that Godfrey Fowler, 
tlie youngest and only surviving son of John, the first of our 
line of whom we have positive recorded proof, very materially 
added by imi)ortation of colonists and moneyed purchase to 
the lands inherited from his father. The first patent granted 
to John Fowler was in 1662^ in James City, later in Hen- 
rico, and lastly to Godfrey in Chesterfield County. Old 
Town Creek is between Eichmond and Petersburg, the old 
Fowler homestead being sitaated nearer the latter place, the 
scene of horrible carnage in the war between the States, 
when Petersburg and Eichmond fell. 

THE WILL OF GODFREY FOWLER THE FIRST^ OF HENRICO 
COUNTY, VIRGINIA, JUNE 29, 1743. 

"In the name of God, Amen ! I, Godfrey Fowler of Hen- 
rico County, Va., being of perfect health and sound memory 
— thanks be to God !— but knowing the uncertainty of this 
life,.. do make, constitute, and ordain this to be my last will 
and testament in manner and form following: 

"First, I desire that my son John Fowler may have the 
whole use and benefit and advantage of the plantation on 
which he now lives, with all the Land on the north side of 
the Spring Branch, during his natural life, or his abode 
upon the said plantation. After his death or removal I give 
and bequeath the aforesaid plantation and Tract of Land to 
my Grandson Godfrey Fowler son of Mark Fowler" [the 
second Mark] "to his heirs forever. 

"Then I give my son Godfrey Fowler" [the second God- 
frey, known as the Quaker] "the plantation and tract of 
Land whereon he now lives, lying on the south side of ttie 
aforesaid Spring Branch, crossing Cattail creek to William 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



Dunnifents Spring Branch, thence keeping that Branch to 
the line, to him and his heirs forever. 

"Then I desire that my daughter (in law) Phebe, widow 
of my deseased son, Thomas Fowler, may have the whole use 
and benefit and advantage of the Tract of Land and Planta- 
tion whereon my deceased son dwelt containing two hundred 
acres, the same more or less, as it is already laid off by Mark't 
Trees &c during her natural life or widowhood and after her 
death or marriage I give the aforesaid Plantation and Tract 
of Land to my two Grandsons William and Josiah Fowler, 
sons of my aforesaid son Thomas Fowler, to them and their 
heirs forever, to be equally divided between them. 

"Then I give and bequeath to my son Mark Fowler the 
Tract of Land and Plantation on which he now lives contain- 
ing 200 acres as is now laid off by Mark't Trees &c to him 
and his heirs forever. 

"Then I give and bequeath unto Thomas Ellis the Planta- 
tion and Tract of Land whereon he lately dwelt containing 
200 acres more or less as laid off my markt trees &c to him 
and his heirs forever, it being the Tract of land wch he 
bought of my son Joseph Fowler and the right not yet 
conveyed. 

"Then I give and bequeath unto John Smith 100 acres of 
Land or be the same more or less Joyning upon the Land 
which I have given to Thomas Ellis to him and his heirs 
forever, he having fully satisfied me for the said land and 
the right not conveyed before. 

"Then I give my son Joseph Fowler One Shilling Sterling. 

"Then I give my Daughter Anne Hill one Sealskin Trunk. 

"Then I give my son Mark Fowler all the Cattle he has 
of mine in his possession and the Debt he owes me. 

"Then I give my Daughter Martha Vadin one Leather 
Chair which she has now in her possession. 

"I desire that my Estate may not be appraised. All of the 
rest of my Estate of (what) nature or kind soever I give unto 
my Son Godfrey Fowler, and 1 do constitute and appoint him 
my said Son Godfrev Fowler mv w^hole and Sole Executor of 



ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



my last will and Testament ratifying and confirming this 
and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness 
whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and affixed my Seal 
this 29 Day of June 1743. 

(Signed) "Godfrey Fowler. 

"Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by the sd God- 
frey Fowler to be his last Will and Testament in the pres- 
ence of us John Parkenson Henry Dance Allick Moore.^^ 

"At Court held in Henrico County the first Monday in 
May, 1747, this will was presented by the Ex'r and upon his 
Solemn affirmation (he being a Quaker) and proved by John 
Parkenson and Henry Dance, two of the witnesses thereto, 
was admitted to record. Test : Bowler Cocke, C. C." 

So Godfrey Fowler the First was dead by May, 1747. 

Our Joseph Fowler the First had taken his apportionment 
of land by 1743 and had removed from it, as we see in the 
will. Perhaps he had gone direct to North Carolina, for we 
find his sons there in 1773. 

I am puzzled to trace the relationship of John Smith and 
Thomas Ellis, legatees of this will. There must have been 
ties of blood, for a Lieutenant Ellis Fowler of the Eevolution- 
ary War was the founder of the Fowler family in South 
Carolina. (See data given by Hon. Godfrey Fowler of S. C.) 
Could John Smith and Thomas Ellis have been sons-in-law 
to Godfrey? They may have inherited their dead wives' 
portion, and yet it seems that women in that early day did 
not share in the divisions of land, being expected to marry 
a man with land. If they failed to marry they were expected 
to be cared for by the male relatives. A very ideal state of 
affairs, provided everything worked out well. 

It is from the Martha (Fowler) Vaden mentioned in the 
foregoing will that Mr. Chalkley of Richmond is descended. 
Below are extracts from the Chappell Genealogy : "On May 
7, 1741, at a monthly meeting (at the White Oak Swamp 
Meetinghouse, Quaker), John Chappell and Ann Simons pub- 
lished their intention of marrying. They were married Sept. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY, 



4z, of the same year. The bride was a widow, relict of 
Thomas Simons and a daughter of Godfrey Fowler of Hen- 
rico County. There were present at the marriage Godfrey, 
John, Sarah, and Simons Fov,ler." The last name certainly 
read Fowler Simons, and x\nn must have been a daughter of 
Godfrey Fowler the Quaker, who was also Godfrey the Sec- 
ond. Mr. Chappell avers that the old Quaker records are 
absolutely authentic. 

I quote another entry from the old Quaker Eecords, for 
what may be made of it by some Fowler descendant: "On 
Oct. 5, 1733, Eobert, son of Kobert Hunnicut, married Sarah 
Fowler, daughter of William Fowler of Charles City County.'^ 
The many William Fowlers have confused me beyond all 
coherence of ideas on the subject. 

"In the records of Sussex Count}^, Virginia, has been found 
the marriage bond of William Chappell and Sarah Fowler, 
Dec. 24, 1805.'^ (From Chappell Gen.) Singularly enough, 
this book was brought to my knowledge by Mr. and Mrs. 
Charles E. Chappell of Cadiz, Ky., who are another instance 
of the blending tides of Chappell and Fowler blood, she being 
a granddaughter of Polly Ann (Fowler) Wilson of Caldwell 
County, Kentiicky, who was the only daughter of Godfrey 
Fowler the Third in direct line through Joseph the First 
of Wake County, North Carolina. It will be remembered 
that this third Godfrey was the founder of the family in 
Kentucky, near old Princeton. (See frontispiece, the old 
Fowler Homestead.) Of course I am counting the Godfreys 
only in our line through Joseph, as I have no way of knowing 
of the other Godfreys in the other branches, but judging 
from appearances, they must have been many. Before leav- 
ing the Fowlers and Chappells I quote a footnote from the 
same book: "Godfrey Fowler was the great-grandfather of 
Nancy Yaden, who married ^Father' James Chappell of 
Amelia County, in 1806." Father Chappell was a revered 
Methodist preacher of his day. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



MISCELLANEOUS FOWLER SETTLERS OF AN EARLY DATE IN 

VIRGINIA. 

These Fowlers of nearly the same portion of Virginia 
should prove of more than passing interest to readers of this 
record. 

"John Fowler and Ensign William Spence, 300 acres 
planted by patent, 1626. 

"John Fowler, acres planted by patent at Archer's 

Hope.'' I am inclined to believe that this is mention of our 
John Fowler the First, but I am in the dark in my con- 
jectures on account of no date being given, which is again an 
oversight of the copyist, I presume. We see later records of 
land deals by Godfrey, the son of John, and a George Archer. 

"John Fowler came over in the Hopewell, 1634, age, 
twenty-four years.^' Eecord m Virginia Land Office, vol. 2, 
page 9. 

"William Fowler and Margaret Fowler arrive in Va. ship, 
'AbigaiV 1621 ; still living in the colony 1624.'' From Hot- 
ten's Emigrants, which includes the earliest Virginia census. 

"Wm. Fowler living in Elizabeth City in 1625." 

"Francis Fowler living in James City, 1623." Francis 
Fowler living at Captain Smith's plantation, James City, 
1623-'25, age twenty-three years. 

"George Fowler came in Primrose, age twenty-two years; 
living in Va. 1635. 

"Francis Fowler, a member of the Virginia House of Bur- 
gesses, 1642." Henning's Va. Statutes, vol. 1, page 236. 

"Francis Fowler in James City, 800 acres, 1635; 1200 
acres, 1637; 1600 acres, 1639." Va. Land Books. 

"George Fowler in Lower Norfolk, 180 acres, 1663, 550 
acres in 1673, and 670 acres in 1675. George Fowler of 
Princess Anne, 200 acres in 1695." 

"Wm. Fowler of Isle of Wight, 100 acres in 1695." 

"Bartholomew Fowler, 1260 acres in Isle of Wight in 1697, 
and 6500 acres in Essex and King William counties, in 1698." 
"Bartholomew Fowler, the King's Attorney-General of the 



10 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Colony of Virginia in 1700. He lived in Henrico County/^ 
From the William and Mary Quarterly. The following is 
from Cooke's "Virginia/' page 302: "He (Governor Fran- 
cis Nicholson) made for himself an eccentric record. He 
had little respect for powdered wigs, and one day caught the 
Honorable King's Attorney-General Fowler by the collar of 
his silk coat and swore that he, Governor Nicholson, 'knew no 
laws the Virginians had/ and his 'commands should be 
obeyed without hesitation or reserve.' " Again, "Bartholo- 
mew Fowler in Middlesex in 1695, 600 acres, and [illegible] 
acres in King and Queen in 1695." 

"Wm. Fowler in Isle of Wight, 200 acres in XansemOnd 
County, 1728." 

"Eichard and Francis Fowler in Caroline, 137 acres in 
1730." 

"Eob't Fowler, 400 acres in Augusta in 1746." 

"Joshua Fowler, 140 acres in Amherst in 1767." "Wm. 

F., acres in Amherst in 1770." These must have been 

the sons of Thomas, son of Godfrey the First. 

"John Fowler, a student at William and Mary College in 
1780." William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 1, page 21. 

"Samuel Fowler, Sr., and Samuel Fowler, Jr., — the former 
50 years, the latter 24 years," — are recorded in the Henrico 
Minute and Order Book, Oct. 1688, page 10. 

One is naturally led to believe that some connection must 
have existed between these numerous Fowlers of nearly the 
same locality and period. However, conjecture is about all 
we have to fall back on except in cases absolutely proven by 
subsequent evidence of other records. 

In the foregoing notes we find early grants of land to a 
William Fowler, noticeably of the Isle of Wight and other 
counties, and here is a grant for military service as captain 
in the Continental troops in the Eevolutionary War : "Coun- 
cil Chamber, Feb. 24, 1783. I do certify that Captain Wm. 
Fowler is entitled to the proportion of land allowed to a cap- 
tain of the Virginia Line of Continental for three yrs. 
service." (Signed) Benj. Harrison, Thos. Merriwether. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 11 



Warrant for 4000 acres issned to Capt. Wm. Fowler, No. 145, 
page 26, Rev. Eecords. 

THE WILL OF WILLIAM FOWLER OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, 
VIRGINIA, SEPTEMBER 19, 1800. 

"In the name of God, Amen. I, William Fowler of the 
County of Chesterfield, being of perfect sense and memory, 
do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testa- 
ment. 

"My will is that all my legal debts be paid, and for that 
purpose I appropriate all my stock of every kind, and my 
other moveable furniture and utensils, and in case they be 
not sufficient, then my will is that as many slaves of mine be 
applied to the purpose as will supply the deficiency. 

"I give to my wife during her life one half interest in the 
tract of land on which I now live, to be laid off by my 
executors in an equitable manner, it being that half adjoin- 
ing the land of Eeuben Cross which is hereby intended; and 
it is furthermore my will that no part thereof be planted in 
corn often er than every third year, and that no timber be cut 
and carried off said land for any purpose or under any pre- 
tense whatever, and that no waste of any kind be committed 
on the same. And if it so happen in laying off the said half 
of the said land for my wife, that the houses are not included 
therein, my will is that she have the use of them, except of 
the main body of my barn, and that she have a way to the 
same. I also give my wife during her life one half of my 
upper mill, and, after all my debts are paid, I give to my 
wife during her life one third of all my slaves, agreeable to 
the valuation to be made by my executors. 

"My will is that my nephew William Fowler be maintained 
and educated by my executors out of my estate until he 
arrive at the age of fifteen years. 

"My will is that as soon as my executors conveniently can 
do so consistent with the situation of affairs, that they pur- 
chase out of my estate a four wheel carriage and appurten- 



A^'^NAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



ances thereto for the use of my daughters. x411 the rest and 
residue of my estate real and personal in possession or action, 
I give to my children, Eliza W. Fowler and Emily Fowler, 
in fee simple. 

"I give to my Father during his life my negro man Charles 
Flood, notwithstanding anything before seeming to the con- 
trary, if there be a sufficiency to pay all my debts. 

"Lastly, I appoint Bernard Markham, Isaac Salle, Thos. 
Cheatham, and Eeuben Cross Executors of this my last will 
and Testament. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand 
and seal this 19 September, 1800. 

(Seal) "William Fov^ler. 

"Published in presence of us, Thos. J. Eobson, John 
Fowler, John Hampton, Isaac Salle.'' Vol. 5, page 313, 
Chesterfield Will-Book. 

In Chesterfield County Marriage Records we have the mar- 
riage of William Fowler and Judith Salle, 1785, daughter of 
Abram Salle. If the name of the wife had been mentioned 
in the will we could determine if this William were related 
to the Salles. I should like very much to know if this was 
also the Captain William Fowler of the Continental army. 

From Chesterfield County Will-Book, vol. 4, page 378, 
1794, Josiah Fowler names his wife Elizabeth and daughter 
Phoebe Traylor, with Joshua Fowler a witness. The name 
of Mayse Blankenship is also given, but it is not clear in 
what connection except as a legatee. This Josiah Fowler is 
without doubt the son of the deceased Thomas mentioned in 
the will of Godfrey Fowler the First. That Thomas left a 
widow, "Phebe," and two sons, William and Josiah. 

THE WILL OF GARDEXER FOWLER^ SR.^ CHESTERFIELD COUXTY, 
VIRGIX^IA, 1798. 

"In the name of God, Amen. I, Gardener Fowler, of the 
County of Chesterfield and Parish of Manchester, being of 
perfect and sound memory, do make this my last Will and 
Testament in manner and form thus: 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 13 

"I lend to my beloved wife Sarah Fowler my plantation 
and land upon which I now ]ive, containing ninety acres, be 
the same more or less, during her natural life. My grandson, 
Gardener Fowler, Jr., is to live on the said plantation with 
his Grandmother and do her business and no other person's, 
and after the death of my wife, Sarah Fowler, I give and 
bequeath to my said Grandson, Gardener Fowler, my land 
aforementioned, to him and his heirs forever. 

"I give to Dinah Cook one Feather bed and furniture, one 
cow and calf, one ewe and lamb, one iron pot, one common 
size Chest, to her and her heirs forever. 

"I give to my Son Abraham Fowler one Shilling Sterling, 
to him and his heirs forever. 

^^I lend the rest of my estate unmentioned to my wife 
during her life for my Grandson Gardener Fowler to have the 
use of the estate as long as my wife lives, and after her death 
I give the whole of my estate to the aforesaid Gardener 
Fowler, to him and his heirs forever. 

^'My will and desire is that Jeremiah Baugh and my 
Grandson Gardener Fowler be empowered to collect my ju-st 
debts for to defray the expenses that may happen at my 
death. Xow I do hereby revoke all other wills by me before 
made, and do by these presents declare this to be my last 
will and Testament made and witnessed this 16 day of 
Aug. 1798. 

(Seal) "Gardener Fowler. 

"Declared and pronounced in the jDresence of us and we 
in the presence of each other.'' (Signed) Thos. Talbot, 
Enoch Eoberts, Jr. Chesterfield County Will-Book, vol. 5, 
page 267. 

"We, the commissioners, being first sworn, have appraised 
the estate of Gardener Fowler and do make return of an in- 
ventory of same, according to law, this 3d day of May, 1800. 
Value 54 pounds, 4s." (Signed) Jeremiah Baugh, Thos. 
Ashbrook, Archer Puckett. Vol. 5, page 442, Chesterfield 
Will-Book. 

iVbraham Fowler made his will July 20, 1816, naming his 



14 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILT. 

"beloved wife, Elizabeth Fowler, sole heir and the executrix 
of the estate, without security. Signed by Samuel Clarke, 
Ezekiel Davis, Laban Puckett. In the Chesterfield County 
Court, October 28, 1816, the will of Abraham Fowler, de- 
ceased, was proven by Samuel Clarke and Ezekiel Davis, sub- 
scribing witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded. On 
motion of Elizabeth Fowler, executrix therein named, she 
entered into bond with security and took the oath requirecf 
by law, a certificate is granted her for obtaining probate 
thereof in due form. Teste : Parke Poindext^r." 

MILITARY SERVICES OF FOWLERS IN VIRGINIA DURING EARLY 
W^ARS OF THE COLONY AND STATE. 

Mention of the earliest military service is from a Land 
Office Warrant, No. 270. "To the principal surveyor of any 
county within the commonwealth of Virginia: This shall 
be your warrant to survey and lay off in one or more surveys 
for Alexander Fowler or assigns the quantity of 2000 acres 
of land due unto the said Alexander for military services 
performed by him as Lieutenant in Capt. Henry Peyton's 
Company under Major-General Sir John Irwin, Colonel of 
his Majesty^s Eegiment of Foot in the late war between Great 
Britain and France, agreeable to the terms of the King of 
Great Britain's Proclamation of 1673, a Certificate of which 
and of the sd x\lexander Fowler (being) an inhabitant of 

this State at the time of Passing the land [illegible] 

proven is received into the Land Ofhce. Given under my 
hand and seal of the said office on this 16th day of Feb. 1781. 
John Hall.'' This Fowler was of my maternal line of 
Fowlers, for the name of Alexander descends in that line as 
Godfrey does~in my paternal branch. I am inclined to be- 
lieve that this Alexander Fowler was my great-greatgrand- 
father, who had two sons that I know of, namely, Alexander 
and Sherwood, the latter my great-grandfather. 

From manuscript copy of the Auditor's Report of Pay- 
ments to Revolutionary Soldiers of Virginia, Virginia State 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 15 



Library, 2 volumes: ''Wm. Fowler, Asst. Cloth'r, Received 
by himself, Aug. 12, 1783, 23 pounds, 5s, 8d." "Joseph 
Fowler, Sol. Inf ty. Received by Col. Jno. Gibson, Mar. 22, 
1783, 109 pounds,'' &c. "Moses Fowler, Sol. Inf't'y. Re- 
ceived by Lewis Ford, Oct. 27, 1783, 62 pounds,'' &c. "An- 
derson Fowler, Sol. Inft'y. Rec'd by L. Johnson, Dec. 18, 
1783, 65 pounds," &c. "Johu Fowler, Sol. Inf. Rec'd by Mr. 
Vanmeter, ISTov. 17, 1785, 55 pounds," &c. "Joseph Fowler, 
Sol. Inf. Rec'd by his widow. Mar. 2, 1786, 6 pounds," &c. 
This Joseph must have been killed or died early in service. 
Anyway, he was no more in 1786. 

"Acts of Virginia Legislature, 1834, Doc. 44. Moses 
Fowler, Sol. Inf." 

"Doc. 30. Wm. Fowler,^ Captain Continentals. Warrant 
obtained for 4000 acres of land for three years' service, Feb. 
24, 1783." 

"Doc. 34. John Fowler, private Continental line, served 
three years." Following up this John, further data are re- 
corded in Revolutionary Records, Land Office (in 3 vols.) : 
"I do certify that Samuel Crouch, Assignee of John Fowler, 
is entitled to the proportion of Land allowed to a private of 

the Continental Line for three years of service. Original 

voucher says Samuel Crouch, Assignee of John Fowler. 

Council Chamber, Feb. 12, 1785. Thos. Merriwether. Sept. 

13, 1783, James McClung. War. for 100 acres. No. 3974, 

Book 2, page 183." 

"No. 4112. Joseph Fowler, representative of Joseph 

Fowler, deceased, is entitled to the proportion of land allowed 

to a private of the Continental line for 3 years' service. 

Council Chamber, Mar. 2, 1786. Thos. Merriwether, P. 

Henry." "A warrant for 100 acres is issued to Joseph 

Fowler, representative of Jos. Fowler, deceased, page 215, 

Vol. 2." 

"Military Certificate. Executive Dep't., Richmond, Va., 

Jan. 22, 1834. The heirs of John Fowler are allowed Land 

^See "Notes on William Fowler of Virginia." 



16 A.V.A^AL*S' OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Bounty for his services as a private in the Continental line 
for 3 years if not heretofore clrawn/^ 

"The Register Teste. John B. Richardson, Sept. 15, 1834, 
warrant No. 8025 for 100 acres issued to Martha Matthews, 
Polly Pierce and John Harris, heirs of John Fowler, de- 
ceased. Book 3, page 357.^^ In this connection I mention 
an advertisement which appeared in the Richmond Enquirer 
January 7, 1809. "Xotice to John Fowler of Kentucky and 
Jordan Harris of Virginia.^' 'T do certify that Thos. Austen, 
Assignee of Anderson Fowler, is entitled to the proportion of 
land allowed a private of the Continental line who has served 
3 ^years. Thos. Merriwether, Benj. Harrison. Vol. 1, page 
506, Rev. Rec." 

"In a return of non-commissioned officers of Capt. Briggs' 
company of the Virginia line. Fort Pitt, in actual service, is 
Joseph Fowler. Doc. No. 1112.^^ 

MARKIAGE RECORDS OF FOWLERS OF CHESTERFIELD COUJ^TY, 

VIRGINIA. 

"William Fowler and Judith Salle, dau. of Abram Salle, 
1785.'^' 

"Luke Fowler and Sally Adkins, 1782.^' Mr. Chalkley 
sends added note that a Luke Fowler was a school teacher in 
that county, but fails to say when. 

"Burwell Adkins and Eliza (or Eliz, which may mean 
Elizabeth) Fowler, 1803.'' 

"Zebulun Fowler and Ann Traylor, 1788." "Inventory 
of property of Zebuhm Fowler in 1797.'' 

"Thomas Fowler and Sarah Traylor, 1788 or '89." 

'' Traylor and Phoebe Fowler, 1793, with Josiah 

Fowler, father, and Thomas Fovder (brother?), for wit- 
nesses." Beyond any doubt this Josiah Fowler was the 
grandson of Godfrey the First and a son of Thomas and 
Phoebe Fowler, the son Thomas who was dead in 1743, when 
Godfrey wrote his will. In Will Book, page 378, in 1794, is 
recorded the will of Josiah Fowler which names his wife 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 17 

Elizabeth, his daughter Phoebe Traylor, and Mayse Bhmken- 
ship, a legatee, and witnessed by Joshua Fowler. 

"Bernard Fowler and Temperance Paukey, daughter of 
Stephen Paukey, 1788.'^ 

"Thos. Fowler and Patience Parkeson, 1792." I can only 
wonder if the name Parkeson has any connection with that 
of the neighbor Parken or Parkinson whose land line God- 
frey Fowler^s survey crossed in 1717. Xames were spelled 
very carelessly in early days, as all families know, and often 
as carelessly pronounced. 

"Jesse Totley and Nancy Fowler, 1792.^^ Xancy has been 
a name in the Godfrey Fowler line as far back as I have 
been able to go. William Fowler and Pleasant Fowler are 
named below that marriage record, and their names must 
stand as witnesses, as I am unable to think of any other 
connection their signatures may mean in the copy I have. 
In the same way do the names of Vincent Blankenship and 

Amasa Fowler stand after the marriage of Traylor 

and Phoebe Fowler. It could not mean that they were also 
contracting parties, as they are both masculine names, and it 
was not customary then to give masculine names to women. 

"William Fowler and Susannah Saunders, 1796.^^ I leave 
you to identify the William Fowlers, for I give it up. 

"Pleasant Fowler and Priscilla Berry, 1793.'' There is a 
Fowler family in Texas in which the name Pleasant obtains 
to the present, also the name Josiah. 

"Gardener Fowler and Sarah Davis, 1796 or '97.'' That 
must have been the second Gardener Fowler, grandson of the 
elder Gardener Fowler whose will is given later, which was 
dated 1798, and whose estate was appraised May, 1800. 

"William Fowler and Phoebe Patram, 1796." Another 
William Foivlerl 

"Joshua Fowler and Patience Blankenship, 1798." 

"Elisha Fowler and Fatey Purdue, 1801." 

Mention of JOHN FOWLEK. Chesterfield County Deed 

Book: " Burton to -John Fowler of Henrico County, 

1751." 

2 — Fowler. 



18 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



^^John Fowler, Sr., and Judith to son John, 1783/' 
"John Fowler, Sr., to son William, 1786/' Judith, his 

wife, may have been dead by 1786. 

'^'John Fowler, appraiser of Cunningham estate, 1771." 
"John Fowler, purchaser at Executor's sale, between 1760 

and 1770." 

Miscellaneous mention. Chesterfield County Deed Books: 

" Cook to Gardener Fowler, 1752." 

"Mark Fowler to Osborne, 1749." 

"Godfrey Fowler to , 1758." There is no way of 

knowing whether this was Godfrey the Second, the son of 
Godfrey the First, or Godfrey the Third, a grandson men- 
tioned in the w411 of the first Godfrey. This third Godfrey 
was a son of Mark Fowler the Second (in Virginia). 



CHAPTER II. 

DESCENDANTS OF JOSEPH FOWLER THE FIRST, FOUNDER OF 
THE NORTH CAROLINA BRANCH. 

"The country churchyard, with each mossy stone, is a living page 
of history, and even the parish register, instead of being a niere 
record of dry and uninteresting facts, becomes instinct with the lives 
and surroundings of our forefathers."— [Uf/rJs/e//. 

JOSEPH FOWLER emigrated to North Carolina from 
near Petersburg, Va., prior to 1772, or perhaps directly there 
prior to 1743^ the date of his father's will, which shows that 
Joseph had taken his portion and changed his residence from 

his native heath. Joseph's wife was Nancy ; they had 

twelve children: 

I. BULL ART), who had married in Virginia. (See men- 
tion of old record.) 

II. WILLIAM ANDERSON, captain of the Wake 
County militia company, 1772. 

III. SUSANNAH, married Jones of Virginia. 

IV. MARY, married Spain of A^irginia. 

V. GODFREY (SR.), married Rahab Cooper of North 
Carolina. 

VI. WILMOTH — "Willie" — married Hopkins of North 
Carolina. 

VII. JOSEPH. Nothing more is known of him than of 
Bullard and William Anderson. 

VIII. ELIZABETH, married Houghton of Vir- 
ginia. 

IX. NANCY, married Houghton of Virginia. 

X. MARTHA. 
XL SALLY. 
XII. BURWELL. 

It is plain in the will of Joseph that Martha, Sally, and 
Burwell were minor heirs, for whose protection the document 
was written, and that all of the others had then received 



20 AXXALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

their portion^ with a few exceptions. This will was contested 
in court by Bullard and Godfrey (Sr.). Godfrey, who had 
witnessed the will, testified that it was not the last will and 
testament of his father, bnt the document was sustained in 
the Court of Appeals, State of Xorth Carolina, Hillsborough 
District, October Term, 1791. Following is the jury: Wm. 
Lytle, Gideon Goodwin, Wm. Hunt^ Wm. Coalstain, Wm. 
Marshall, Wm. Munn, Eob't Tinnin, David Allison, Edmund 
Branch, Dread Rogers, Michael Sherman, Charles Harris. 

"The within will, issue and verdict were recorded in the 
Clerk^s Office in the County of Wake, Book C, page 266, Apr. 
30, 1793. H. (or X.?) Lane, County Clerk.'' 

LAST WILL AXD TESTAMEXT OF JOSEPH FOWLER, DECEASED. 

"I, Joseph Fowler, of the fState of Xorth Carolina, County 
of Wake, through the abundant mercy and goodness of God, 
being of sound memory and perfect understanding, though 
weak in body, do constitute and appoint this my last Will 
and Testament and desire it to be received by all as such : I 
give to my son Bullard one shilling, I give to my son William 
Anderson one shilling, I give to my daughter Susannah Jones 
one negro boy named Lewis, I give to my daughter Mary 
Spain one shilling, I give to my son Godfrey one shilling, I 
give to my daughter Wilmoth Hopkins one shilling, I give 
to my son Joseph one shilling, I give to my daughter Eliza- 
beth Houghton one shilling, I give to my daughter Nanny 
Houghton one shilling, I give to my wife Nancy Fowler one 
negro named Brister, I also lend to my said wife all my 
lands, negroes, household goods, and all other estate whatso- 
ever, until my children Martha Fowler, Sally Fowler, and 
Burwell Fowler come of age; I give to be equally divided 
amongst them three negroes, namely, York, Jane, and Will; 
after my wife's death, I leave my negro Brister, also my 
lands and other estate, to be equally divided among my last 
three children named and specified in my will; and I do 
appoint my said wife Executrix and Trustee for my said 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 21 

three children; in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my 
hand and seal this eighth day of April, one thousand seven 
hundred and eighty two — 1782. Signed, sealed, and deliv- 
ered in the presence of us, William Anderson Fowler, God- 
frey Fowder, and Israel Privitt. 

(Seal) "Joseph Fowler." 

CAPTAIN WILLIAM ANDERSON FOWXER AND ENSIGN GODFREY 

FOWLER, OF COMPANY 10, AVAKE COUNTY MILITIA, 1772- 

1773, OF THE COLONY OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

In the Colonial Eecords of Xorth Carolina, by Saunders, 
in volume IX, page 31-1, is to be found this entry: "Field 
return of the Eegiment of the Wake County Militia, at a 
general muster, October 6, 1772, John Hinton, Colonel; 
Company 10, William Anderson Fowler, Captain; Godfrey 
Fowler, Ensign" (answering to the rank of second lieuten- 
ant). Also, on page 689 in the same volume, is found the 
same field return of general muster of 1773. 

As seen by the will of Joseph the First these two colonial 
officers were the second and lhird sons of the founder of the 
family in Wake County, North Carolina. The county of 
Wake was organized about 1771 — so says Mr. S. A. Ashe,^ 
genealogist, of Ealeigh. Were there any earlier records in 
that county the family could be traced farther back, but 
there the thread is lost. Mr. Ashe writes : "I think it more 
than likely that Joseph Fowler and family came from Vir- 
ginia, from the fact that BuUard, the eldest son, owned land 
in Charlotte County, Virginia. This land he conveyed by 
deed to his son Bullard; his widow Mary released her right 
of dower in said land to Joseph Venable, of Charlotte County, 
Virginia, 1799; so Bullard, Senior, was dead and Bullard, 
Junior, of age at that time. You may rely upon it, your 

-Mr. Ashe was recommended by President Battle, of the North 
Carolina Historical Society, and a conscientious and reliable gentle- 
man 1 found him to be." 



22 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

family were superior people of education, proper!}', and 
eminent respectability/^ 

Eef erring to Godfrey Fowler, Sr.,. Mr. Ashe writes : "God- 
frey Fowler, Sr., left no will, but I find that his farm con- 
sisted of 1408 acres of land; he had seven negroes, four 
horses, sixteen head of cattle, &c. His personal property 
brought at sale 858 pounds, 5s., 5d., North Carolina currency, 
which, considering the low prices of those days and the 
scarcity of money, was quite a sum.^^ 

VERSER. 

Mr. John Fowler Musgrove of Bangor, Blount County, 
Alabama, grandson of the Eev. John Fowler, Baptist, gives 
the following data of the Verser descendants. iN'ancy Fowler, 
eldest daughter of Godfrey Fowler, Sr., and Rahab (Cooper) 
Fowler, married Nathan Verser of North Carolina. ^Ir. 
Musgrove writes : "William Terser was a son of Nathan 
Verser of (Wake County) North Carolina. He had two sons 
and four daughters. They lived in this county. Wm. Verser 
died about 1845. His eldest son was a very able Baptist 
preacher. He was Macon Anderson Verser, and he died 
about 1870. Nathan Verser, second son of William Verser, 
moved to Johnson County, Texas, in 1879, and after that he 
went further west about one hundred miles. The daughter 
Susan (daughter of William?), married Ashley Reed and 
died about 1869. Caroline was twice married, first to ^eela 
(?) McCarns; second, to Charles Martin. Emetine married 
a man by the name of Nelson, and she died some time in 
the '60s. Martha was never married. She lived with her 
brother Nathan and went with him to Texas. She has been 
dead several years. I have heard that Nathan is dead, but 
do not know as to that.*' 

From the letter of Mrs. Eliza Helen (Fowler) Powell 1 
quote the following: "Aunt Nancy Fowler, the eldest sister 
of my father AVilliam, married Nathan Verser of North 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 23 

Carolina and had two sons and a daughter. Daniel V., her 
youngest son, died in Madison County, Tennessee, only a 
few years ago [letter written 1882] leaving a large family 
in that county. Dr. Atlas Verser, one of Daniel's sons, lives 
in Lone Oak, Prairie County, Arkansas." 

Elsewhere it is stated that the widow of Godfrey Fowler, 
Sr., died at the home of David Fowler in Hardeman County, 
Tennessee, or of Daniel Verser, near Denmark, Tenn. 

In his journal the Eev. Littleton Fowler tells of his visit 
to his grandmother and his uncle David at the latter's home, 
in 1833. 

DESCENDANTS OF GODFKEY AND RAHAB (COOPER) FOWLER OF 
WAKE COUNTY^ NORTH CAROLINA. 

There were six sons and two daughters, viz. : 

I. NANCY, married Xathan Verser of Xorth Carolina. 

(See Verser.) 
IT. DAVID, born February 10, 1767; married Mrs. 

Rachel Bagley (born Crenshaw), June 8, 1797; died May 15, 

1835, in Hardeman County, Tennessee. 

III. JOSEPH, died 179L (See mention of his nuncupa- 
tive will.) 

IV. JOHN, born August 9, 1771 ; married Lucy Whitaker 
about 1795; died March 6, 1849, in Blount County, Ala- 
bama, whither he emigrated February, 1817. 

V. GODFREY, JR., born about 1773 or '74, exact date 
unknown; married Clara Wright of Tennessee, date un- 
known; died December 23, 1816, in Caldwell County, Ken- 
tucky. His old family Bible is not known to be extant, and 
all of his children have passed away, my father, the youngest, 
being the last to go. 

VI. BULLARD, born November 28, 1776; married Bath- 
sheba Crudup of North Carolina (date not given) ; died 
March 12, 1823, in his native State, North Carolina. 

VII. WILLIAM, born February 8, 1779; married Mourn- 
ing Crudup, sister of Bathsheba, April 22, 1800; died 1854 



24 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

in Heni7 County, Tennessee, at his home on Fowler Hill, 
near Paris. 

YIII. ELIZABETH, "married Eichards and moved 

to Georgia," is the brief record left of her. She must have 
been born about 1780, therefore she was old enough to be 
married about 1795, according to the very early age at which 
a woman — or girl — married in the olden time. 

Mr. S. A. Ashe, genealogist of Ealeigh, X. C, sent me 
this note of Joseph Fowler, son of Godfrey, Sr. : "Joseph 
died at maturity, in 1794, unmarried. He left a nuncupative 
will wherein he disposed of lands and other property, and 
provided for the payment of his debts, giving his lands to 
his father, Godfrey Fowler, Sr., and his personalty to his 
brothers and sisters, Xancy Terser, David, John, Godfrey, 
Jr., Bullard, ^Yilliam, and Elizabeth." 

Godfrey Fowler, Sr., was dead by December, 1796, as 
shown in the legal division of his lands. 

legally apportioxed lands of godfrey fowler, senior 
(deceased.) 

"Wake County, December Session, 1796. Then was the 
within plans of the division of Godfrey Fowler's lands re- 
turned to court, having been duly executed agreeable to an 
order of said court and recorded. (Signed) X. Lane, C. C. 
Eecorded in Clerk's Office, County of Wake, Book D, pages 
283, 284, this July 26, 1797. X. Lane, C. C. 

"These plans represent the lands of Godfrey Fowler, Sr., 
deceased, situated on the waters of Little Eiver, in Wake 
County, which, pursuant to an order of Wake County Court 
dated September Session, 1796, we have proceeded to divide 
in the following manner : 

"The part of tract on which A. stands, bounded as follows 
(full description), containing 100 acres, we consign to his 
son David Fowler. 

"That part of same on which B. stands, bounded as follows 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



25 



(full description), containing 100 acres and residence, we 
consign to the widow of the deceased. 

"That part of the tract on which C. stands, bounded as fol- 
lows (full description), containing 100 acres, we consign to 
his son John Fowler. 

"That part of the land on which D. stands, bounded as 
follows (full description), containing 200 acres, we consign 
to his son Godfre}^ Fowler. 

"That part of the land on which E. stands, bounded as 
follows (full description), containing in the whole 376 acres, 
we consign to his son Bullard Fowler. 



W - 170 pOLE-J) 




W I LL I MA 



Lands of Godfrey Fowler, Wake County, North Carolina, left to his five sons. 



26 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

"The tract on which F. stands, bounded as follows (full 
descri2:»tion), containing in the whole 376 acres, we consign 
to his youngest son William Fowler. 

"All of which is submitted by Wm. Barham, Hardeman 
Dunn, Francis Phillips, David Horton. John Humphries, 
Surveyor of Wake County/^ 

The two daughters, Nancy Verser and Elizabeth Fowler, 
seem not to have shared in the division of the lands. 



CHAPTEE III. 

"No soul can ever truly see 
Another's highest, noblest part, 
Save through the sweet philosophy 
And loving wisdom of the heart. 
I see the feet that fain would climb; 
You, but the steps that turn astray. 
I see the soul, unharmed, sublime; 
You, but the garment and the clay." 

— \Plioehe Cary. 

DAVID FOWLER AND HIS FAMILY. 

[These entries have the expknatory note attached : "Taken 
from Father (David) Fowler's Bible at Smith Abernathy's 
house, October 30, 1837.'' The transcription is in pencil on 
the flyleaf of a book.] 

DAVID FOWLEE, born February 10, 1767; died May 15, 
1835. 

EACHEL CEENSHAW, his wife, born December 18, 
1772; died February 8, 1821. 

DAVID FOWLEE AND EACHEL CEENSHAW MAE- 
EIED JUNE 8, 1797. 

I. MAEY A. FOWLEE, born July 1, 1798. (Married 
H. W. Brown.) 

II. EEBECCA S., born November 10, 1801. (Married 
Smith Abernathy.) 

III. JOSEPH T., born March 27, 1803. (Moved to Pa- 
nola County, Mississippi.) 

IV. JOHN W., born March 20, 1805. (Married and 
lived, in Memphis, Tenn.) 

V. ELIZABETH, born April 15, 1808. (Married Wil- 
liam Swor.) 

VI. WILLIAM L., born August 21, 1810. (Married 
Miss Adams of Tennessee, 1837, moved to Texas, died 1842, 
from wounds received in an encounter with a bear.) 

VII. MAETHA B., born March 15, 1812. (Married 
James S. Harris.) 



28 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

A letter from Miss Anna B. Abernathy Brown says : "We 
know very little of our Fowler ancestors. Onr papers of 
admission to the Daughters ot the American Eevolution were 
based on the records of the Moores of North Carolina, who 
were the kindred of our maternal grandmother. My sister's 
middle name — Fowler — was for our grandmother, Mary A. 
Fowler, father's mother, who was a daughter of David 
Fowler, who was a son of Godfrey Fowler (we believe) and 
the family came from Wake County, North Carolina. The 
Crenshaws were Virginians. "Billy" Crenshaw, Rachel's 
father, was the first man to send tobacco ready packed in a 
hogshead into Petersburg, Ya.'' (To quote from Cooke's 
"Virginia:" "One other incident of the time was the project 
of Colonel William Byrd to establish two new cities, "^one at 
Shoccoes to be called Eichmond, and the other at the point of 
Appomattox to be called Petersburg.' The foundation of 
Richmond was laid in 1773.") 

DESCENDANTS OF MARY A. FOWLER AND HER HUSBAND, HENRY 
WILLIAM BROWN, OF COUNTY, TENNESSEE. 

"Mary A. Fowler was the eldest born child of REVER- 
END DAVID FOWLER and his wife, MRS. RACHEL 
BAGLEY (born CRENSHAW). David was born February 
10, 1767; died May 15, 1835. Rachel (Crenshaw) Bagley, 
his wife, was born December 18, 1772; died February 8, 1821. 
David Fowler and Mrs. Rachel (Crenshaw) Bagley, — wddow 
of James Bagley of Virginia, — were married June 8, 1797. 
Their children were Mary A., Rebecca S., Joseph T., John 
W., Elizabeth, William L., ynd Martha B." (From an old 
paper owned by John W. Fowder, Memphis.) 

MARY A., born July 1, 1798; married to Henry William 
Brown about the date of 1832; died October 12, 1845 (old 
family record). Henry William Browm, born in 1794, died 
1872. Their children were: 

I. DAVID, born about 1833, died in infancy. 

II. PATRICK HENRY, born 1835 ; went to Texas dur- 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 29 

ing the latter part of the fifties; joined the Fourth Texas 
Regiment and was killed at the battle of Gaines' Farm in 
front of Richmond, Va., during the seven-days battles, in 
1862. 

III. MARTHA E., born about 1838; married to a Mr. 

Moore and moved to the northern part of Tennessee 

some twenty-five years ago. 

IV. JOSEPH JOHN, born January 24, 1840; was in 
the artillery, Breckenridge's Division, Hardee's Corps, Army 
of Tennessee, C. S. A. Married MARY BELSIE ABER- 
NATHY, January 10, 1871. Their children: 1, Irene 

Fowler Brown, born , — , educated in Miss Conway's 

school, Memj^his, Tenn., and graduated from Vassar College 
in the class of 1894; 2, Anna Belle Abernathy Brown, born 

, — ; educated at the young ladies' school of Miss 

Conway; they reside with their family in Buntyn, a suburb 
of Memphis, Tenn. 

V. MARY, born in 1842, died in 1844. 

The foregoing information was given Ijy Mr. Joseph John 
Brown, of Buntyn, Tenn. He writes that the family records 
were all destroyed and he had to rely solely on his memory for 
the dates and facts. He adds: "My maternal grandfather 
David F'owler and his wife came from Wake County, North 
Carolina, and settled in Hardeman County, Tennessee, near 
the hamlet or village of Whiteville, about 1830 or '31, where 
they both died soon afterward and were buried near their 
home." [There is a discrepancy here, for the date of the 
death of David's wife is given in several old papers as Feb- 
ruary 8, 1821 ; therefore, she must have died in Wake County, 
North Carolina.] "I believe they had five [seven] children, 
Joseph, John W., William, Mary, and Martha. Joseph re- 
moved to Panola County, Mississippi, and died there in the 
sixties. John W. went to Memphis, Tenn., and served 
Shelby County as sheriff in the thirties; he became a promi- 
nent citizen of that city, where he died in 1870. William 
went west, first to Arkansas, then to Texas." [He it was who 



30 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

was so seriously wounded by n bear in an encounter in Lamar 
County, Texas, that he died from injuries sustained.] "jMar- 
tha married a James High, 1 thinl-, and moved to Rusk or 
Van Zandt County, Texas, in the early forties.'' [Martha B. 
Fowler was the youngest of the seven children of David and 
Eachel; she married, first, James S. Harris — so recorded in 
the division of the property of her father David, December, 
1835. She may have married a High in a second marriage. J 

I have some old records lent by the daughter of j\Ir. 
Brown — Miss Anna B. — and Mr. John W. Stovall, of Stovall, 
Miss., which help out the recollections of Mr. Brown. Re- 
becca S. Fowler married Smith Abernathy. Mr. W. H. 
Greer of Henry County, Tennessee, writes: '^One of her 
descendants is Jolm Abernathy, Mixie, Carroll County, Ten- 
nessee.'' Mr. Greer adds also: ^'Another daughter of David 
Fowler (Elizabeth) married William Swor, who served a^ 
colonel of the Fifth Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers, in 
the Civil War. James E. Fowler, of Henry County, Tennes- 
see, raised a company of tlie regiment and served it as cap- 
tain." 

To resume cpiotations front Mr. Brown's letter: "These 
facts are all from memor}', but I believe they are all tolerably 
correct. An old family servant named Solomon, who be- 
longed to the Fowler family m Wake County and came with 
my grandfather David to Tennessee, lived to the age of 95, 
dying during the Civil War. He was given to my mother 
with other slaves in the division of the property. He said 
that my great-grandfather William [recorded elsewhere as 
James] Crenshaw, was the first man to send a hogshead of 
tobacco into the new town of Petersburg, Va. I infer that 
David F. and Rachel (born Crenshaw) were married in Vir- 
ginia." [Joseph the First v.eiit from near Petersburg, Va., 
to North Carolina. This is recorded in some old papers 
which belonged to Colonel John W. Fowler, Memphis, Tenn.] 

'^My daughters tried to join the Daughters of the American 
Revolution through their Fov.ler ancestry, but failed in get- 
ting correct history; they obtained this right through their 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 31 

maternal grandmother, who was a Moore, of western North 
Carolina. I am a direct descendant of Edmund Brown, who 
was a dashing soldier under the command of General Marion, 
but when Sherman looted and burned Columbia, in 1865, all 
revolutionary records of South Carolina were destroyed." 

(Signed) J. J. Brown. 
I take pleasure in telling how I discovered Miss Irene 
Fowler Brown. I am a Daughter of the American Revolution 
(through my maternal great-grandfather Sherwood Fowler, 
of Powhatan or Amelia County, A^irginia ) , and I was reading 
a well-written article on Tennessee history in the D. A. R. 
national organ, the American Monthly, when I was impressed 
with the name of the writer — "Irene Fowler Brown." I was 
in quest of Tennessee Fowlers in both lines of descent, and 
I decided that the name Fowler was at least a slight clue. I 
•sent a letter to the writer of the article in care of the publi- 
cation; what was my gratification to discover in her a de- 
scendant of the Wake County Fowlers, as was graciously 
•stated in her prompt reply to my inquiries. She is an inter- 
-esting and accomplished young lady, as is shown by her 
letters. 

:SOME OLD PAPERS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY, KINDLY LOANED 

BY THE MISSES BROWN OF BUNTYN, TENNESSEE. 

DESCENDANTS OF THE REVEREND DAVID 

FOWLER OF TENNESSEE. 

The following army discharge has some reason for being 
■among the treasured documents, but no one of this generation 
is able to give the explanation. It shows the stain of many 
years, but the ink is still good and the paper little worn. 
The writing and spelling prove that our early defenders were 
better fighters than writers, — could handle the sword with 
more grace than the pen: "March 12, 1721. This may Cer- 
tify that James butler has served three months in the Service 
and is hearby Discharged from the Redgiment by Thos. 
Farmer Lt." 



32 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Tlie following is only an extract from an article making 
Godfrey Fowler, Senior, the authorized agent for collecting 
the unpaid w^ar dues of one William Hall, — signed with his 
mark and attested by two justices of peace, Warren Alford 
and Thomas Eobertson, February 7, 1792. The service was 
rendered in the Wake County Militia, North Carolina, "in 
•the late war,^' in the command of Col. Oin and Capt. Phillips, 
and he received his discharge from "Leftenant David Hor- 
ton." 

Another — an old bill of dry goods: "Godfrey Fowler Bot 
of Thomas Gilchrist Jan. 9, 1789— To cash 13/2 yds bro 
cloth 1 doz Mettle Buttons G yds spotted cotton 4 yds Durants 
2 bro'd Hoes (evidently hose) 1 razor 1 pr Knee Buckles 2 
yds laste 2 yds ribbon (amounting to) 13 pounds and 6 shil- 
lings (and paid for) "By Hh"d (hogshead) oi under tohacco.'' 

By the foregoing we are led to believe that our revered 
ancestor Godfrey wore broad cloth, knee buckles, and ribbon 
on his queue. The "spotted cotton" was calico, but what 
the "Durants" and "bro'd Hoes" were I have puzzled over in 
vain, unless the latter means broidered hose. I am glad to 
note the razor, which is another badge of cleanliness, there- 
fore of respectabilit}', if not godliness. 

DAVID fowler's LICENSE TO PlJExVCII THE GOSPEL. 

The Reverend David Fowler lived near Bolivar, Hardeman 
Count}', Tennessee. His family record of births, etc., shows 
that he was born in 17G7, licensed to preach in 1830, making 
him 63 years of age when he began preaching. He died in 
1835, therefore his church labors were brief; but, from the 
number of namesakes among ihe Fowder descendants, he must 
have been held in most affectionate regard, the family homage 
usually given to a truly godly man : "David Fowler came 
forward duly recommended by the class of which he is a 
member as a proper person to preach the gospel; and, after 
due examination as to his gifts, grace, and usefulness, we 
judge he is a proper person^ and therefore license him for 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 33 

that purpose. Signed in beJialf of the Bolivar Circuit of the 
Associated Methodist Church held at Wolf River meeting 
house, April 10, 1830. W. Peck, Elder & Chairman of the 
Conference.^^ 

This good man was reared by a mother of such remarkable 
piety that the Reverend Littleton Fowler, who visited her 
and David and family at David's home in Hardeman County, 
felt sufficiently impressed to record that fact in his Journal 
No. 1. Do we of this generation feel grateful enough for a 
clean, honest, and godly ancestry? Whenever I see a "black 
sheep" of the Fowler fold i can but recall God's merciful 
promise to the descendants of those that love Him, "even to 
the third and fourth generation.^' David's mother, — and she 
was the mother of my grandfather Godfrey, Jr., also, — was a 
Baptist, and she has left the impress of her doctrinal faith on 
her descendants in Xorth Carolina. She must have been a 
benediction in every home she tarried in while living round 
among her children after her widowhood. To quote from a 
letter written by the venerable Dr. Josiah Crudup Fowler, 
of Wake Forest, X. C, "Xone of us North Carolina Fowlers 
has ever done anything very ^smart,' neither have we done 
anything very bad,'' which takes the measure of the family 
at large. 

THE MEDICAL BILL OF DR. SAMUEL ROSAMOND. 

[This very quaint account is written in a good, clear hand, 

with ink which is still black, on carefully ruled paper.] 

"Rev. David Fowler, Dr. to Samuel Rosamond, for 

Medical Survices A. D. 1835, Viz. Jan 28th, Road 

in the rain 5 Miles, 25 cts per Mile, Staid 8 hours, 

Steamed, gave Emetic & 2 clisters $ 4.25 

Returned on the 29th. Miledge $1.25 administered 
corn Sweet & Baithed with No. 6. Administered 

full process of Medicine 7.25 

Feb 6th gave pills, Xointed & Baithed Joints & Back, 

Staid all Night 3.00 



3 — Fowler. 



34 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

9tli Miledge 1.25, Baithed & Xointed Joints, Staid all 

Night 2.00 

10 Steamed, Baithed & JSTointed Joints 3.25 

13th returned at Xight Steamed Joints & Baith with 

Xo. G 3.25 

14th repeated the Steaming and Baithing 3.25 

17th Miledge 1.25 Steamed, Xointed & Baithed, Staid 

all X^ight 

18th Repeated the Same Process 3.25 



This continues over a page of ledger paper, the total 
amounting to $51. On the reverse side is the following: 
"State of Tennessee Hardiman C^ounty Personall}^ came be- 
fore me Jas. 11. Houston an acting Justice of the peace for 
Sd Count}^ Samuel Rosamond, and after l)eing duly Sworn 
Deposeth and Sayeth that the Within account as Stated is 
Just & Correct to the. best of his knowledge and belief. 
Sworn & subscribed to l)efore me this 21st Dec. 1835 
(Signed) Samuel Rosamond. Jas. R. Houston J. P.'' Then 
is recorded Dr. Rosamond's receipt of the account in full to 
Mr. H. W. Brown, executor o^' the deceased. 

It is inferred that the patient so treated was the Reverend 
David, who died in his sixty-eighth year, and he must have 
been a sufferer of rheumatism, 
fj- - ■ 

I)IVISIOX OF THE PERSONAL PROPERTY OF REV. DAVID FOWLER, 

DECEASED. 

On December 15, 1835, the heirs of the deceased David 
Fowler (died May 15, 1835) met together and petitioned 
H. W. Brown, the husband of the eldest born, Mary A. 
(Fowler) Brown, to act as executor. The following paper 
sTiows that the heirs were all living: 

"State of Tennessee, Hardeman County: We, the under- 
signed, do hereby (swear) that we received of David Fowler 
previous to his death the following property amounting to 
the sums to which our several names are subscribed, to wit : 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 35 

H. W. Brown and wife Mary, one negro girl and other prop- 
erty amounting to $233.00. 

''Smith Abernathy & wife Eebeeca, one negro girl and 
other property amounting to $283.00. (Signed, Smith Aber- 
nathy. ) 

"James Harris & wife Martha, one negro girl & other 
property amounting to $305.50. (Signed, James S. Harris.) 

"William Swor & wife Elizabeth, one negro boy and other 
property amounting to $266.13. (Signed, William Swor.) 

"Joseph T. Fowler, one negro boy & other property 
amounting to $365.00. 

"John W. Fowler, one negro boy, & so on, $329. 

"William L. Fowler, one negro boy, &c., $322.25." 

This article is written in b good business hand by John W. 
Fowler (I believe, after comparing with a letter of his), and 
duly signed with well-written signatures, those of J. W. F. 
and William L. Fowler being remarkably good. The amount 
received amounted to more than $2000, a respectable sum 
when money was so scarce. The property of the Eeverend 
David was then put up at public sale, and was bought by 
the heirs and others. Following are some articles of sale, 
with cost thereof: Young bay horse, $71.50, bought by Wm. 
L. Fowler; black "main'' horse, $85, by James Bagley (the 
Bagleys were in some way related to the family) ; furniture, 
by Solomon High (also related, so says Miss Anna Brown) ; 
one china press, $19, bought by Jas. Bagley; among other 
things were a spinning-wheel and a loom. 

This succeeding entry may interest the children of this 
day . and generation : "Five negroes sold by consent of lega- 
tees, viz., Solomon, age 68 years, bought by H. W. Brown 
at $225; Lucy, age 52 yrs., at $325, l)y Jas. S. Harris; Clem, 
age 27 yrs., bought by J. W. Fowler, at $801; James, age 
11 yrs., bought at $400, by Joseph T. Fowler; Charles, age 
7 yrs., bought at $327, by W^m. L. Fowler.'' The five negroes 
ranging in ages from seven years to sixty-eight aggregated 
in price more than $2000. Compare this with the sale of a 



36 annal;^ of the fowler familt. 

tract of land containing 274 acres at $1100, bought by Solo- 
mon High. This inventory and sale show that the Eeverend 
David Fowler was a prosperous farmer, with little or no 
indebtedness worth mentioning, as a God-fearing, industrious 
man should live. His wife preceded him to the grave four- 
teen years; his four daughters were all married, and — it is 
believed — his eldest son, Joseph T., at the date of the 
division of the propert}-, December 15, 1835. 

The following is from the old papers of Colonel John W. 
Fowler, kindly lent by his grandson, John W. Stovall, Sto- 
vall. Miss. : "David Fowler (the Methodist preacher) mar- 
ried the widow of James Bagly,^ who was the daughter of 
James Crenshaw and Mary (Smith), his wife. They were 
from Virginia.^' [Elsewhere it is stated that the Crenshaws 
lived near Petersburg, Va.J "Rachel (Crenshaw) Bagly 
had two sons at the time of her marriage to the Rev. David 
Fowler, — Anderson and James. Anderson was born Feb- 
ruary 5, 1790; died December 22, 1813, at Norfolk, Va., 
while a prisoner of the English of the war of 1812-'14. He 
had graduated at Yale College, and was returning home 
when captured by the English. He w^as 23 years of age at 
his death, and a brilliant and promising young man. James 
Bagly died March 26, 1817, in Wake County, North Carolina. 
He married Betsy High and they had two sons, — Anderson 
T., born July 11, 1814, and James S., Jr., born January 21, 
1817; died in 1859. David and Rachel Fowler raised seven 
children, — Mary, Rebecca, Joseph T., John W., Elizabeth, 
William, and Martha. Memphis, October 14, 1858. J. W. 
Fowler.'' 

MEMORANDUM NO. III. CHILDKEX OF JOSEPH T. FOWLER AND 
ELIZA (HEWLETT) FOWLER. 

"Joseph T. Fowler was born March 27, 1803 (in Wake 
County, Xorth Carolina), married on July 15, 1834 (evi- 

^The proper spelling of this name must have been Bagley. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 37 



dently in Tennessee), to Eliza Hewlett, born December 8, 
1807. She was the daughter of Thomas Hewlett and Sarah 
(Warford) Hewlett. Their children were five daughters and 
two sons: 

"I. Sarah Ann Sonora, l)orn January 31, 1837. 

"II. Mary Anderson, l)orn October 14, 1838. (Named 
presumably for a sister of Joseph.) 

'TIL Martha Louisa, bom August 1, 1841; died August 
6, 1868. 

'TV. Frances Lea, born July 30, 1843. 

"V. John W., born February 12, 1846; died March 17, 
1847. (Named for J. W. F.) 

"VI. David, born November 22, 1848. 

"VIL Rachel Crenshaw, born March 1, 1850. (Named 
for Joseph's mother.) 

"Joseph T. Fowler died May 9, 1863, aged sixty years, in 
Panola County, Miss." 

Following is the only information I have been able to 
obtain from the only surviving child of Joseph T. Fowler: 
"Longtown (Panola County), Miss., Oct. 28, 1899. '^ * * 
Yes, I am a sou of Joseph T. Fowler and a grandson of the 
Rev. David Fowler. There were seven of us, but I am the 
only one living. I shall write you all the particulars in a 
few. days, just as soon as 1 can find the family record. 
* * *' Do you wish information of the late John W. Fowler 
of Memphis^ Tenn., and of a sister who married Brown? 
They were both brother and sister of my father. * * * I 
am glad to take a ])ook, and will assist you in any way I am 
able. Yours truly, David H. Fowler.'' 

I have vainly endeavored to learn something of the de- 
scendants of William L. Fowler, who located on land claims 
in Red River County in 1839, when my father, A. J. Fowler, 
was chief justice of that county, also president of board of 
land commissioners of that county, with G. T. Wright, a 
maternal first cousin of my father, acting with him on the 
board. 



38 ANNAL.S OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

COPIES OF OLD FOWLER MEMORANDA FOUND AMONG THE 

PAPERS OF THE LATE COLONEL JOLIN W. FOWLER 

OF MEMPHIS, TENN. 

They have been kindly loaned by the grandson of Colonel 
Fowler, who is Mr. John AV. Stovall, of Stovall, Coahoma 
County, Mississippi. 

"Bullard, William (Anderson), Godfrey, (Senior), and 
Joseph Fowler were brothers and were raised near Peters- 
burg, Va. Their sisters were Elizabeth, N'anc}^, Willie, and 
Susan. Elizabeth and Nancy married Houghtons of A^'ir- 
ginia; Willie married Jones of Virginia; Susan married 
Hopkins of North Carolina. [By turning to the will of 
"Joseph the First,^' who was the father of these brothers and 
sisters mentioned, we see that tile memory of the informant 
in this instance played him false, for Susannah married 
Jones of Virginia, Avhile "Willie'* — Wilmoth — married Hop- 
kins of North Carolina.] 

"Godfrey Fowler (Sr.) married Kahab Cooper, who had 
brothers, Mark, Malchiah, Sion, and Edward Cooper of 
North Carolina. 

"Godfrey and Eahab's children were : David, Godfrey 
(Jr.), John, Bullard, and William, also Nancy and Eliza- 
beth. Nancy married Nathan Verser, Elizabeth mai:ried 

Richards. David died in his sixty-seventh year (1835) 

near Bolivar (Hardeman County), Tennessee; Godfrey 
(Jr.), died in Kentucky (181G), where he raised a family; 
John died in Blount County, Alabama; Bullard died in 
North Carolina ; William died near Paris, Henry County, 
Tennessee; Elizabeth lived in Georgia; Nancy died near 
Denmark, Tenn. ; Rahab died at her son David/s, near Boli- 
var, Tenn., or at Daniel Verser s, near Denmark, Tenn. 

"David Fowler married Rachel, born Crenshaw, a daughter 
of James Crenshaw and his wife Mary (Smith). They were 

also from Virginia. Rachel was the widow of Bagley 

(James), by whom she had two sons — Anderson and James. 
Anderson died at Norfolk, Yd. (December 23, 1813), during 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 89 



the war of 1812--14^ he having been taken prisoner by the 
English while he was on his return home from Yale College, 
a graduate. He was a brilliant yonng man. James Bagley 
died in Wake County, N'orth Carolina, where he married 
Betsy High ; they had two sons — Anderson and James Bag- 
ley, Junior. James, Jr., died in 1859. 

"David and Eachel Fowler raised seven children, to wit: 
Mary A. (married H. W. Brown), Eebecca S. (married 
Smith Abernathy), Joseph T., John W., Elizabeth (married 
William Swor), William L., "and Martha B. (married James 
S. Harris). 

"Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 14, 1858. J. W. Fowler." 

MEMOKAXDUM XO. II. ABERNATHY CHILDREN". 

"Eebecca S. Fowler, born November 10, 1801 (in Wake 
County, North Carolina), married Smith Abernathy in 1822 
(also in North Carolina). He was born May 9, 1803. Issue: 

"I. James Anderson Abernathy, born June 10, 1824. 

"II. William Smith, born August 22, 1825. 

"III. Mary Jane, born June 19, 1828. 

"IV. Elizabeth Susan, born August 7, 1830. 

"V. John Clayton, born April 11, 1832. 

"VI. Martha Ann, born August 17, 1833; married 

Carver. 

"VII. Samuel David, born March 26, 1835. 

"VIII. Josiah, born January 18, 1837. 

"IX. Louisa Frances, born October 8, 1839. 

"X. Miles Franklin, born June 15, 1842. 

"XL Sarah Caroline, born June 3, 1844. 

"XII. Indiana Eebecca, born January 13, 1846." 

There is no later record to tell whom any of the Aber- 
nathys married, or when any of them died. I have been 
given the address of one or two of the Abernathy descend- 
ants, but am unable to hear from them. It is plain that 
Smith Abernathy came from North Carolina to Tennessee; 



40 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

they may have come with the Kev. David Fowler, between 
1826 (when David's brother William came) and 1830. We 
have seen in other old records that James Bagiey and Solo- 
mon High were purchasers in the division of the property of 
David Fowler, in 1835, so they mnst have dwelt in the same 
neighborhood in Tennessee 

The date of Wm. L. Fowler's- death is recorded opposite 
the date of his birth in a list of the births and deaths of the 
children of the Rev. David Fowler, as Angnst 14, 1842. This 
is also among the other memoranda of the late J. W. Fowlei- 
of Memphis; that list is not co])ied in full, for all the dates 
have been given elsewhere at the proper time and in the 
regular connection, except the date of the death of Elizabeth 
(Fowler) Swor, who was born April 15, 1808, died August 
7, 1862. She married Wm. Swor, who vras colonel of the 
First Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers in the C. S. A. 
This list has this notation : "All of the foregoing is taken 
from the record in the Bil)le of the Rev. David Fowler, 
which is in the hands of Smith iVbernathy, who married 
Rebecca S. Fowler. J. W. Fowler, Memphis, Tenn., June 
15, 1838.'' 

DESCENDANTS OF JOSEPH TAYLOR AXD ELIZA (iIEWLETTE) 
FOWLER OF LOXGTOWN, PANOLA COUNTY^ MISSISSIPPI. 

JOSEPH T. FOWLER was the third child and eldest son 
of DAVID and RACHEL (born CREXSHAW), formerly 

-William L. Fowler, youngest son of David, married a Miss Adams, 
of Tennessee, in 1837, and settled on land in Red River County, 
Texas, in 1839. His death was caused by wounds received in a fear- 
ful encounter with a bear near the Griffin home, where the town of 
Roxton now stands, so says "Uncle Sam Griffin," who Mas a boy then 
and remembers the circumstance. When William and the bear were 
both nearly dead the desperate man charged his gun very heavily in 
order to call help by its unusual report. When fired the rifle ex- 
ploded, breaking William's arm and tearing the flesh horribly. Mr. 
Griffin arrived in time to save the life of the nearly dying man, who 
w^as taken to the home of the kind rescuer, and later to his own 
home, where he died (1842) after a time. This was one of the 
thrilling fireside tales of mv childhood. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 41 

of near Petersburg, Va., later of Wake County, ISTorth Caro- 
lina, and latest, of Hardeman County, Tennessee. 

Joseph T. Fowler was born March 27, 1803, married July 
15, 1834, to Eliza Hewlette (as spelled by David Hewlette 
Fowler, the only surviving heir), who was the daughter of 
Thomas and Sarah (Warford) Hewlette. Eliza was born 
December 8, 1807, and she became the mother of five 
daughters and two sons. (See Descendants of David 
Fowler.) 

The remainder of this record is taken from the data fur- 
nished by the only living child of Joseph T. and Eliza 
Fowler, who is the before-mentioned D. H. Fowler of Long- 
town, Panola County, Mississippi: 

"Joseph T. Fowler died in 1861, and Eliza, his wife, died 
in 1876. The eldest — Sarah Ann — married Thomas J. 
Freeman of Panola County, Mississippi, and had one son, 
James A., of Pleasant Grove, Miss. 

^TI. MARY ANDERSO!^, married Capt. R. H. Porter 
of Lafayette County, Tennessee, and had three children, — 1, 
Joseph Fowler, deceased; 2, Frank, deceased; 3, R. H. (Jr.), 
now living in Pulaski, Tenn. " 

"III. MARTHA LOUISA, born August 1, 1841, died 
August 6, 1868. 

•TV. FRANCES LEA, married Dr. S. B. G. Caruthers, 
and they had ten children : 1, Brazil Kotzburn ; 2, Thomas 
Hewlette; 3, Lyde Lou; 4, S. B., deceased; 5, Fannie Lee; 
6, Aaron Askew; 7, Samuel Slaughter; 8, Mary; 9, Sadie 
Gather; 10, Bob Lee. 

"V. JOHN W., born February 12, 1846, died March 17, 
1847. 

"VI. DAVID HEWLETTE, born November 22, 1848, in 
Panola County, Mississippi; educated in that county and in 
Oxford, Miss.; married Mary E. Fitzgerald, October 19, 
1870; she was a daughter oE Frank and Mollie Fitzgerald. 
She died July 26, 1897, after becoming the mother of five 
children: 1, Joseph Taylor, born January 12, 1872, died 
December 8, 1888; 2, Mollie Hobson, born August 26, 1873, 



42 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILi. 

died April 2Q, 1881; 3^ Frank Fitzgerald, born September 
7, 1878, died October 11, 1882; 4, John Warford, born 
Angust 19, 1876, died February 6, 1897; 5, David Hewlette, 
born February 15, 1881, died July 18, 1883. 

"DAVID HEWLETTE FOWLER married the second 
time to Annie Corr, of Sardis, Miss., on December 14, 1898, 
and have had one child, Mary Corr, born December 14, 1899, 
(lied June 13, 1900; 2, Annie Elizabeth, born January 20, 
1901. 

"Annie Corr Fowler is a daughter of R. H. Corr and his 
wife, Martha (Robertson) Corr, of Panola County, Missis- 
sippi.'^ 

Mr. D. H. Fowler says furthermore: "Some of the 
Caruthers have my fathers family record. I am the only 
living child of Joseph T. Fowler; I am a phmter, a Method- 
ist, and a Democrat.*' 

Mr. Fowler forgot to tell whether his youngest sister, 
Rachel Crenshaw, died or married. Mrs. E. P. Coleman of 
Como, Miss., writes later that the youngest child of David 
and Eliza Fowler, who was named Rachel Crenshaw, ob- 
viously for her grandmother Fowler, died young, as did the 
namesake of Colonel John W. Fowler of Memphis, Tenn. 

DESCENDAXTS OF JOSEPH T. FOWLER AND ELIZA ( HEWLETT) 
FOWLER OF PANOLA COUNTY^ MISSISSIPPI. 

"They had seven children, five daughters and two sons, 
namely : 

"I. SARAH ANN LENORA [elsewhere written ^So- 
nora'J was the eldest born, on January 31, 1837; she married 
Thomas J. Freeman; her only child was James A. Freeman, 
who married Hennie (Henrietta?) Fitzgerald, and they have 
seven or eight children and reside at Clarksdale, Miss. Sarah 
Ann Lenora (Fowler) Freeman died soon after the birth of 
her only child and her husband is now married to his third 
wife and resides near Sardis, Miss. 

"II. MARY ANDERSON— named presumably for a sis- 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 43 

ter of Joseph T. Fowler — was born October 14, 1838; mar- 
ried Eichard H. Porter of Tennessee. He is still living near 
Mastodon, and has his third wife. Mary A. (Fowler) Porter 
had eight children, all of whom died in infancy, except three 
sons: I, Joseph B., born August 12, 1859; married Georgia 
G. Tate (born June 1, 1861), on May 9, 1883; had four 
children; 1, Mary Anderson, born May 26, 1884, died April 
16, 1885; 2 and 3, Eobert Monroe and Josie Lee — twins — 
born July 14, 1886; 4, Mattie May, born April 2, 1889. 
Joseph B. Porter was a merchant of Como, Miss., and died 
there January 19, 1891. II. Robert H., born January — , 
1861; married Courtney White of Pulaski, Tenn., June 1, 
1884; they have three children: 1, Vernon Louise; 2, Janie 
May; 3, Ruth Courtney; thev reside in Pulaski, Tenn. III. 
Frank, the youngest, married Corrie Burnett; he and his 
wife are both dead ; they left three daughters, — Mary Ander- 
son, Maud, and Lonel (Lionel?)'^ 

The foregoing was most kindly given by Mrs. Edwin 
Pope Coleman, who was a Caruthers, and her mother was 
born a Fowler. It is presumed that she had access to the 
family record, which her uncle David Fowler said he had 
not, as it was in the hands of some of the Caruthers families. 
He did remarkably well indeed when it is considered that 
his not( s were all from memory. 

DESCENDANTS OF FRANCES FEA ( FOWLER ) CARUTHERS AND 

DR. SAMUEL BAZIL GAITHER CARUTFIERS, OF PANOLA 

COUNTY^ MISSISSIPPI. 

FRANCES LEE FOWLER was the fourth child and 
daughter of JOSEPH T. and ELIZA (HEWLETT) FOW- 
LER of Panola County, Mississippi; she was married to 
Dr. Caruthers, April 10, 1860. He was born October 2, 1829, 
in Tipton County, Tennessee, and was an eminent physician. 
She was born July 30, 1843, in Panola County, and died 
August 30, 1899. Dr. Caruthers died October 7, 1892. They 
had ten children, six sons and four daughters, namely : 



44 A^WAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

I. BAZIL KOTZBUE, born May 18, 1862; educated in 
Oxford, Miss.; married ZULEAM EOBINSON", February 
10, 1886, in Panola County; had four children: 1, Claud 
Archer, born June 25, 1889; 2, Mamie Clare, born February 
2, 1891; 3, Celeste, born January 10, 1896; 4, Kotzbue Har- 
vie, l)orn April 7, 1898. B. K. Caruthers is a planter, and 
lives at Parkas Place, Miss. 

II. THOMAS HEWLETT, born August 26, 1864, Pa- 
nola County; educated in Como, Miss.; married Carrie V. 
Bliss of Houston, Texas, December 26, 1892, in Houston; 
their issue: 1, Fowler Bliss, born October 27, 1893, Bryan, 
Texas; 2, Mary, born October 8, 1895, Panola County, Mis- 
sissippi; 3, Edward Oliver, born January 29, 1897, Como, 
Miss.; 4, Mary Louise, born July 3, 1899, Como, Miss. T. 
H. Caruthers is a contractor and lives in Como, Miss. 

III. LYDE LOU, born December 13, 1866, Panola 
County, Mississij^pi ; educated at Ward^s Seminary, Nash- 
ville, Tenn. ; married Edwin Pope Coleman, September 13, 
1886, in Como, Miss.; he was born February 4, 1852, Pa- 
nola County, Mississippi ; their issue : 1, Ruth, born June 
8, 1889; 2, Edwin Pope, Jr., born February 8, 1892; 3, 
Caruthers, born August — , 1893; 4, Miriam Bucy, born 
August 14, 1895. Mr. Coleman is a man of large business 
interests, including 4000 ucres of a plantation in Panola 
County, Mississippi, and cattle ranches in Goliad and Bee 
counties, Texas; also, a coal mine at Timpson, Texas. She 
is much interested in churr-li and missionary work; was a 
district secretary, then conference editor, for the Xorth Mis- 
sissippi Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, but when family cares called her from giving her 
personal attention to her nobly chosen church work, she ac- 
cepted a Bible woman, Mrs. Zie (whose Christian name is 
Lyde Coleman) of Xantziang, China, whom Mrs. Coleman 
supports in the missionary field. 

lY. FANXIE LEA, born July 20, 1869, Panola County; 
educated in Memphis, Tenn.; married John C. Liger, Sep- 
tember 27, 1892, in Panola County; two children: 1, John 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 45 

Caruthers, born April 26, 1894, Hansboro, Miss.; 2, Bazil 
Gaither, born October 31, 1896. Mr. Liger is a teacher by 
profession, but his family resides in Hansboro, Miss., through 
the summers. 

V. SAMUEL BAZIL GAITHER, born N^ovember 16, 
1871, died August, 1873. 

VI. AARON ASKEW, born January 4, 1874; educated 
at French Camp, Miss. ; served as a volunteer in the Spanish- 
American war; went out with the Twelfth Regiment, U. S. 
v.. Company E, under Major-General Lawton; fought in 
the battle of Santiago, and when El Caney was taken he was 
one of the first soldiers to enter the fort and assisted in 
capturing the few Spanish soldiers left. He had an honor- 
able discharge from the army after hostilities ceased, but 
after remaining only a few days at home he joined the Phil- 
ippine army, and is there nov/ in Battery M, Sixth Artillery. 

VII. SAMUEL SLAUGHTER, born September 3, 1876; 
educated at the State University, Oxford, Miss. ; he joined 
the First Mississippi Regiment in the war with Spain, but 
was ordered only to Camp Chickamauga. He is now prin- 
cipal of a large school in this State; he expects to finish at 
Oxford next year, then he will study medicine and go out as 
a missionary physician from the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South. 

YIII. MARY, born November 29, 1878; educated in 
Columbus, Miss., at the I. I. & C, and at Pulaski, Tenn. ; 
she has made music a specialty and is quite an accomplished 
musician. 

IX. SADIE GAITHER, born February 8, 1881; is at- 
tending the Memphis Conference Female Institute, Jackson, 
Tenn. 

X. ROBERT LEE, born June 21, 1883; is in the Agri- 
cultural and Mechanical College, Starkville, Miss. 



46 ANiVALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

DESCEXDANTS OF JOHN W. FOAVLER AND LOUISE OLDHAM^ HIS 
WIFE, OF MEMPHIS, TENN. 

JOHiS^ W. FOWLER was the second son and fourth 
child of the Rev. DAVID FOWLER and MRS. RACHEL 
BAGLEY (born CREXSHAW), his wife. He was born 
near Raleigh, N. C, Wake County, March 20, 1805. His 
father's family emigrated to Hardeman County, Tennessee, 
about 1830, and John became an early settler of Mem- 
phis and ultimately one of the most prominent citizens 
of that foremost city of Tennessee. He married Caroline 
Oldham, May 14, 1839; she was the daughter of William 
L. Oldham and Xancy Carver, his wife. Caroline (Oldham) 
Fowler died August 2, 1839, less than three months after her 
marriage. She was born Juiie 1, 1820. 

He married Louise Oldham (presumably a sister to his 
first wife), September 12, 1840. Their children were: 

I. LOUISE IREXE, born Xovember 5, 1842, died July 
31, 18T5, in Denver, Colo. She was married to William 
Howard Stovall, May 10, 18()6; they had children: ], Rosa 
Louise, born January 30, 1807, died March 11, 18(58; 2, Wil- 
liam Howard, Jr., born January 29, 1869, died January 29, 
1872; 3, John Willis, born September 3, 1871; he was edu- 
cated at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Ya., 
also at the summer law school of the L'niversity of Yirginia, 
Charlottesville, and Avas graduated in law, obtaining a di- 
ploma of special distinction from the L^niversity of Missis- 
sippi, in 18 — . He married Jean Stone Wight, daughter of 
C. S. Wight, manager of freight traffic, Baltimore & Ohio 
Railroad, Baltimore, Md., on Xovember 3, 1898. Issue: 1, 
Louise Irene, born September 29, 1899. Jean S. (Wight) 
Stovall was educated at Yassar College and in Paris, France. 

II. WILLIAM 0., born August 21, 1846, died March 20, 
1850. 

III. CAROLIXE AZALIA, born March 27, 1851, died 
March 20, 1879. She was married to J. A. Austin, of Mem- 
phis, Tenn. Their children: 1, John Alex, Jr., who mar- 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 47 



ried Frances Falls; issue: 1, John Alex, Jr., "the Third;'' 

2, Irene, born ; 3, W. I^'owler Austin. They reside in 

Memphis, Tenn. 
^^ J. W. Fowler married Mrs. Eose Eagle, January 6, 1858; 
no children. He died January 12, 1870, at Memphis, Tenn. 

DESCENDANTS OF CAROLINE AZALIA ( FOWLER ) AND JOHN 
ALEXANDER AUSTIN OF MEMPHIS, TENN. 

Caroline Azalia Fowler was the second daughter and 
3^oungest child of. John Vv^ and Louise Irene (Oldham) 
Fowler; she was born March 27, 1851, died March 20, 1879; 
she was married to J. A. Austin, May 23, 1871; they had — 

I. JOH]^ ALEXANDER, JR., born May 29, 1872; mar- 
ried Frances Falls, November 7, 1895, and had: 1, John 
Alexander Austin the Third, born August 1, 1896; 2, Napo- 
leon Falls, born December 1, 1899. They live in Memphis, 
Tenn. 

IL LOUISE IRENE, born August 23, 1871:. She is 
popular in the social world of her native city. 

HI. ALGERNON SIDNEY, born April 24, 1877, died 
in infancy. 

IV. WILLIS FOWLER, born November 30, 1878. 

John A. Austin, Sr., married a second wife, Lilly Martin, 
and had Charles Martin, died in infancy. They reside in 
Memphis, also. 

The foregoing brief facts are given by Miss Louise Irene 
Austin, and I regret their brevity. She added the following : 
"My grandfather Austin, Robert Spottswood Austin, was 
born in Hanover County, V^irginia, October 17, 1795. He 
Avas the youngest child of John Austin, whose father came 
from Wales. My grandfather Austin had only one brother, 
Smith Austin, and four sisters. They were related to Gov- 
ernor Spottswood of Virgini;:, also to the Sidneys and Mor- 
rises of Richmond, Va. 

"1 have tried to get a picture of the old Fowler home in 
Memphis, but it has been torn down. The home in Stovall, 



48 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Miss., has been so changed ihat I do not believe yon would 
care for it. — Memphis, September 5, 1901.^' 

The foregoing dates and information were copied from 
the old family Bible and most kindly given by Mr. John W. 
Stovall, Coahoma County, Mississippi: he is the grandson of 
Colonel J. W. Fowler of Memphis, Tenn. Mrs. Hose Fowler, 
the widow of Colonel Fowler, resides with him. The follow- 
ing extract from the letter ox Miss Irene Fowler Brown, of 
Buntyn, Shelby County, Tennessee, gives interesting facts 
of Colonel Fowler and family, in a general way: "lie had 
two daughters — if other children, they died young; Louise 
Irene married Howard Stovalj and left one son (John) who 
has recently married a Vassar girl from Baltimore, Md. 
(Miss Brown is a Vassar graduate herself.) Azalia, the 
other daughter of Colonel Fowler, married Alex. Austin of 
Memphis, Tenn. Their children are Louise, Alex., Jr., and 
Fowler. Both of the Fowler daughters are dead and their 
husbands are living and married again; both have consider- 
able means, and the Stovalls are quite wealthy. 

"Colonel Fowler's widow, '^Aunt Rose,^ is an elegant, dig- 
nified, beautifully-dressed old lady, who is as fresh and active 
as a girl. She has rigid ideas of behavior ; she never uttered 
a slang phrase in her life. She has been abroad quite a good 
deal and she has accumulated many beautiful things in her 
travels. Papa was always very fond of her and he always 
tries to see her when she comes to Memphis ; he is her favor- 
ite nephew. 

"She resides with the Stovrais,^ Stovall, Miss. They have 
a lovely home there — thousands of acres under perfect culti- 
vation. I have visited them at their home and found them 
truly delightful. 

"It is too bad that you have heard nothing from Louise 
Austin of Memphis; she is a very busy society girl and not 
much interested in genealogical research, I'm afraid. I re- 



dealers 



. H. Stovall and son (John W, S»tovall) are planters and 
'in general merchandise^ Stovall, Miss. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 49 

gret that she was not responsive to your requests for facts 
and dates. — (Signed) Irene Fowler Brown, November 20, 
1899/' 

SKETCH OF COLONEL JOHX W. FOWLER OF MEMPHIS, TENN. 

An extract quoted from a Memphis paper containing the 
address of Colonel Leon Trousdale, on the occasion of an 
Old Folks' anniversary,' which was a picnic at the fair 
grounds: "John \\. Fowler was one of the most prominent 
and useful citizens of Memphis for forty years. He was born 
in Wake County, Xorth Carolina, March 20, 1805; removed 
to Memphis, July 3, 1830; entered into rest, Memphis, 
January 12, 1870. I avail myself literally of a memo- 
randum furnished me by his venerable and worthy con- 
temporary, our distinguished president, to speak his just and 
measured eulogy, together ^';ith that of another prominent 
citizen. Colonel Fraser Titus, whose venerable form was sch 
lately seen among us, and whose sudden death was so gen- 
erally lamented, and of whom it may be said : 

" 'A wit's a feather, a chief's a rod, 

An honest man's the noblest work of God.' 

"John W. Fowler was appointed deputy sheriff of Shelby 
County by John K. Balch in 1833 or 1834; he did most of 
the business of that office until Mr. Batch's term expired, 
when he was elected sheriff' and tax collector, in which 
capacity he served the people for six years, to the entire 
satisfaction of all. No man has before or since filled the 
office better, or with more scrupulous honesty, and at the 
same time more kindness to all classes. Many years before 
his death he attached himself to the Episcopal church of this 
city, and was known as one of its most consistent and liberal 
members until his death. He was intensely Southern in his 
feelings, and many Souther ii soldiers have cause to bless his 
memory." 

Concerning the last statement I quote an extract from a 
letter written me by Mr. John W. Stovall, a grandson of 

4 — Fowler. 



50 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



Colonel Fowler: "]\Ir. J. \\. Fowler was strong]}^ opposed 
to secession, but when the war began he aided the Confed- 
erate cause to the full extent of his moral and material 
power." 

Other members of the Fowler faniil)' have a similar his- 
tory, — Judge W. P. Fowler, of Kentucky, and Colonel elohn 
H. Fowler and Judge A. "Jack" Fowler, both of Texas. 

SKETCH OF COLOXf:L FOWLEK. BY JUDGE JOIIX L. T. SXEED, 

CJIAXCELLOK OF THE CHAXCEKY COURT OF SHELBY 

COUXTY, TEXXESSEE. 

^^'^Colonel John W. Fowler was born near Ealeigh, X. C, 
•about the beginning of this closing century; he died at his 
residence in Memphis, in 1870. He was a conspicuous figure 
in public affairs of Shell)y County for many years. He was 
for several terms sheriff of Shelby County. He was a man 
of affairs and a leader of public opinion. 

"'In ])ersonal appearance he was tall, erect, and imposing, 
and, with his keen, black, and twinkling eyes, he looked the 
born leader of men. He possessed unquestioned courage, 
while in social life he was gentle and amiable and a most 
agreeable companion. 

"^He studied human nature as through a microscope, con- 
sequently he was a remarkal^le jiidge of traits and character- 
istics. He was always tender with and charitable to the 
infirmities of men, but intolerant of their frauds and in- 
frigues. He was especially helpful to young men without 
means, who, on the skirmish line of life, were disposed to 
help themselves. The writer of this brief sketch can never 
fail to bless his memory for many acts of substantial kind- 
ness to him. When a young lawyer without friends or funds, 
this splendid citizen came to his rescue, when the struggling 
young man was on the verge of despair, and enabled him to 
begin a professional career which has been fairly successful; 
to that supreme hour. he traces all of his subsequent triumphs. 
May God's benisons rest upon the memory of John W. 
jFowler." 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 51 

DESCENDANTS OF ELIZABETH ( FOWLER ) SWOil AND WILLIAM 
C. SWOR OF HENRT COUNTY, TENNESSEE. 

ELIZABETH was the fifth child and third daughter of 
DAVID FOWLER and RACHEL BAGLEY (born CREN- 
SHAW), his wife; she was born April 15, 1808, in Wake 
County, North Carolina; she married WILLIAM C. SWOR, 
who was Ijorn November 22, 1808, in North Carolina, on 
December 10, 1829, in Henry County, Tennessee; she died 
August 7, 18G2; he died July 16, 1870; they had eight 
children, six daughters and two sons, namely : 

I. MARTHA JANE, born February 13, 1831, in Henry 
County, Tennessee; died September 17, 1835. 

II. JOHN WESLEY, born June 18, 1833, in Henry 
County; died August 1, 1837. 

III. MARY ELIZABETH, born December 5, 1835, 
Henry County; married Meredith Gentry Wilson, and has 
three children: 1, Tennessee, married Eugene Talley, and 

has nine children; 2, Eliza, married Burton, and has 

several children; 3, William ("Billy^^), married Le- 

MONDS; their children are dead. 

lY. REBECCA ANN, born June 13, 1838; married Dr. 
Anthony Jackson, September 29, 1853. (Her son, Anthony 
Washington Jackson, promises to furnish you his mother's 
family. G. W. Swor.) 

Y. CAROLINE AMANDA, born July 16, 1840, Henry 
County; married Abraham Simonds. 

YL' GEORGE WASHINGTON, born July 11, 1842; 
married Mary J. Lemonds, December 21, 1865, in Henry 
County; she was born in North Carolina, February 8, 1840; 
they had children: I, Alvy, l)orn December 25, 1866, Henry 
County; he married Annie Calhoun Willoughby (who was 
born March 18, 1875), on November 26, 1892; they have 
four children: 1, Wymer C. ( ?), born January 18, 1894; 2, 
Yestie Eunice, born January 10, 1895; 3, LeRoy (?), born 
August 24, 1897; 4, Yernon, born September 29, 1899. 
II. Odessa, born March 15, 1868, died July 22, 1868. III. 



AXXALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



AzoR^ born Xovember 12, 1869; married Martha May Xettie 
Culpeper, December IT, 1891; she was born Xovember 20, 
1874; their issue: 1, Mary Laura, born October 24, 1892; 
2, Opal Oswalt, born February 2, 1895, died October 26, 
1896; 3, William Azor Washington, born October 27, 1897; 
they reside at Owen's Hill, Henry County. IV. Beatrice, 
born May 12, 1871, Henry County; married December 17, 
1885, William Thomas Buoy, born January 4, 1860; their 
issue: 1, William Earl, born February 10, 1887, died Feb- 
ruary 1, 1888; 2, Otis Everett, born March 21, 1888; 3, RuUi 
Ptomola, born ^lay 21, 1890; 4, Frederic Curtis, born June 9, 
1892, died September 24, 1896; 5, Quintius Otho, born Feb- 
ruary 24, 1894; 6, William C. [illegi])le], born October 8, 
1895, died June 25, 1896; 7, Erman Grady, born June 24, 
1897; 8, Myrtle Vivian, born June 26, 1899. V. SIVORS, 
born March 22, 1873; married on October 7, 1896; Sudie 
Chester Kemp, born October 20, 1878; their issue: 1, Ola 
Dexter, born January 16, 1898; 2, Guy Clifton, born Decem- 
ber 11, 1899; they reside at Owen's Hill, Henry County, Ten- 
nessee. VI. ZOLLIECOFFER, born April 26, 1876; mar- 
ried December 26, 1895, Mary Elizabeth Grubbs; their issue: 
1, Vera Beatrice, born October 19, 1896, Coldwater, Ky. ; 2, 
David Denson, born January 13, 1898, Hazle, Ky. ; they re- 
side at Owen's Hill, Henry County, Tennessee. 
. VII. FAXXIE T., bom February 27, 1882. 

VIII. DAVID CROCKETT, born April 5, 1885; it is 
presumed that the two youngest reside with their parents at 
Owen's Hill, Henry County, Tennessee, where their father,' 
G. W. Swor, is a dealer in general merchandise. 

Mr. G. W. Swor says in his letter of January 28, 1900 : 
"My father, Wm. C. Swor, was a magistrate in Henry County 
in the early thirties, also colonel of a militia company before 
the Civil War. He was county surveyor of Henry County for 
ten or fifteen years. At the lieginning of the war between the 
States he was elected major of the Fifth Tennessee Regi- 
ment ; he commanded the regiment in the two days' battle of 
Shiloh, when he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. He 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 53 

also commanded in the battle of Perryville^ Ky., October S, 
1862, when he had a horse killed under him, and was injured 
by another falling on him. In that same battle I lost my 
left hand; I was a young sergeant in the same command. 
Father afterwards served in the recruiting service, as he was 
disabled from further active military duty. 

"My mother was a good Chiistian woman; she died August 
7, 1S62, when my father and I were in the army at Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn. Father died July 16, ISTO. Like myself, he 
was not a member of any church, but he was a kind father 
and a good man and Mason. The Swors are generally poor 
but honest. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren here 
are too numerous to mention. I might be able to get up 
more data from mother's old Bible. We have a Testament 
which belonged to my grandfather David Fowler, who was a 
Presbyterian (Methodist) preacher; he died near Memphis, 
Tenn. (1835.) 

"Mother had a cousin James Fowler, who was a captain in 
the same regiment that my father commanded — the Fifth 
Tennessee. He married a sister of Governor Harris of Ten- 
nessee, and died only about a year ago. I know little of 
my mother's relatives, except Aunt Eebecca Abernathy's 
family, in Carroll County, Tennessee. If I can further serve 
you, let me know. I am glad to take a book. Respectfully 
yours, G. W. Swor, Owen's Hill, Henry County, Tennessee.'' 



CHAPTER IV. 

"Have we not all, amid life's petty strife, 
Some pure ideal of a nobler life. 
That once seemed possible? We have, and yet 
We lost it in the dailj^ jar and fret. 
And now live idle in a vain regret. 
But still our place is kept, and it will wait, 
Ready for us to fill it, soon or late. 
No star is lost we once have seen; 
We alicays may he ichat ice might have been." 

— [Adelaide Proctor. 

DESCENDANTS OF JOHN FOWLER AND LUCY (wiIITAKEIl) 
FOWLER^ FORMERLY OF WAKE COUNTY''^ NORTH CARO- 
LINA, LATER OF BLOUNT COUNTY, ALABAMA. 

The following facts were written Ijy Mr. John Fowler Mus- 
grove of Bangor^ Blount County, Alabama, March 6, 1900. 
As is seen, he is a grandson of John and Lucy (Whitaker) 
Fowler : 

"JOHI^ FOWLEE was the third son of GODFREY 
FOWLEE, SE., and EAHAB (COOPEE) FOWLEE of 
near Ealeigh, Wake County, Xorth Carolina. He was born 
August 9, 1771; he married Lucy Whitaker, daughter of 
John Whitaker of Ealeigh, X. C, about 1795; she was born 
November 19, 1771; they had nine children. John Fowler 
and family left Xorth Carolina in February, 1817, and went 
to Lincoln County, Tennessee, where they remained only 
about a year, when they removed to Blount County, Ala- 
bama, early in 1818. There he spent the rest of his life, 
dying March 6, 1849, aged 78 years. His wife Lucy died 
October 30, 1847, aged 76. John felt called to preach when 
he saw the need of spirituality in the frontiersmen of that 
new and unsettled country to which he had taken his family. 
He preached some time in his own house, before a log meet- 
ing-house was built. He was a Baptist in religious faith, 
along with which he possessed many wearable virtues. Peace 
to the memory of this messenger of God in the Alabama 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 55 

wilds. The religion of most of his descendants is Baptist. 
His children were: 

"I. MAEY, born about 1796; she married Israel War- 
nock, and had three sons and two daughters : 1, John ; 2, 
Lncy; 3, William Henry; 4, David Washington; 5, Martha; 
they all married in Blount County and are all dead, but they 
all left descendants, except John, who had no issue. A few 
of Mary (Fowler) Warnock's grandchildren live in Blount 
County, but most of them have moved west. She died about 
1854. 

"II. ELIZABETH H., born April 20, 1798; she married 
James Dunn (as well as I can read it in penscript), and had 
eleven children — five sons and six daughters : 1, Norfleet ; 
2, Lucinda; 3, Margaret; 4, James P.; 5, Elizabeth; 6, Wil- 
liam; 7, David; 8, Mary; 9, Jane; 10, Daniel Bullard; 11, 
Nancy. The tenth died when about 18 years old; the others 
were married in this county; and now all are dead except 
David and Xancy. Elizabeth H. (Fowler) Dunn died Octo- 
ber 13, 1876. 

"III. NA:N^CY, born about 1880; married James 
Marphree, and had six children, five living to maturity : 1, 
Elizabeth; 2, Eliza; 3, Jane; -i, William; 5, Nancy; 6, Eahab. 
The tw^o eldest daughters married in Blount County, but in 
1845 Jas. Marphree moved with his younger children to 
Itawamba County, Mississippi, where the rest of the family 
married. Nancy (Fowler) Marphree died about 1867. 
Elizabeth, her first born, and William, her only son, are 
dead; the others I have not heard from in years. 

"IV. SALLIE, born February 28, 1802; married William 
Henry Musgrove and had eight children who lived to ma- 
turity and tw^o who died in infancy: 1, Mary N., married 
J. W. Pallin; she died in 1898; 2, Jane, who died in in- 
fancy; 3, Loacintha Margaret, married M. B. Pallin and 
moved to Louisiana; she had four sons, one of whom died 
in the Civil War, the others live in Louisiana; she died in 
1878; 4, Agnes Eliza, who is still living unmarried; 5, Sarah 
S., who married John J. Adams and moved to Arkansas, 



56 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



where she still lives; 6, Martha Maria, who married Barcley 
M. Adams; she died in ISTS, in this county, where she had 
lived her lifetime; four of her children live in Texas: Joseph 
Godfrey Adams lives in Glenrose, Sumervell County, Texas ; 
P. M. Adams lives near Glenrose ; the postoffices of the other 
two unknown to me; 7, William, who died in infancy; 8, 
Virginia Lafayette, who is still living unmarried in this 
State; 9, John Fowler, born April IG, 183G; married Martha 
Cowder and has eight children, four sons and four daughters, 
all of whom live in this county, except one daughter, who 
lives in Georgia. Sallie (Fowler) Musgrove died Xovember 
8, 1877. 

"V. NOEFLEET, the fifth child of John and Lucy 
Fowler, was a son who died when about 9 years of age. 

"VL EAHAB, married Jesse Billixgsly and had two 
sons and six daughters ; she is dead, but when last heard from 
her children lived in Lee County, Mississippi, the postoffice 
of John Fowler Billingsley being Ellistown, Mississippi. 

^^VII. DAVID WASHIXGTOX was the second son of 
John and Lucy Fowler; he married Elizabeth Dockery and 
had ten children, three sons and seven daughters: 1, Loa- 
cintha, married Jonathan Barxes and had four children, 
and died in 1866; 2, Jane, married first Leveret Brazeel, 
and when he died she married Garrison Jones and went with 
him to Bosque County, Texas; 3, Martha, married Joseph 
Sandltn and lives in Bosque County, Texas; 4, Emeline, 
married John Smith and went to Arkansas and died a few 
years after; 5, Nancy, who died young. John Littleton 
Fowler^ was the eldest son; he died in 1862; the second son 

^Mr. David Crockett Fowler of Joy, Blount County, Alabama, wrote 
on January 5, 1900: "I am the only living son oi David Washing- 
ton Fowler. I had two brothers, John (Littleton) and William 
(Godfrey). John died in the Confederate army, William died about 
eighteen years ago, leaving four sons, William, Albert, James and 
Pink, — all of whom are married but Pink, and live in Fowler Cove, 
Blount County, Alabama. :My father David was the only son of 
John Fowler f my great-grandfather was named Godfrey Fowler. 
Jolm Fowler Musgrove of Bangor, Blount County, Alabama, can 
tell you more than I know of the Fowlers in this State." 

Mr. Camilus Turner of Blountsville, attorney at law% is the one 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 57 

was William Godfrey Fowler, who married Mary Ballard 
and had four sons and three daughters, all of whom live in 
this county, except one daughter, who married J. Francis 
Cha]\ibers and lives in Wise County, Texas — postoffiee, Al- 
vord. William Godfrey Fowler died Xovember 10, 1880. 
David Crockett, third son of David W. Fowler, married 
Elizabeth Fales and has seven or eight children, I believe, 
and all live in Blount County; 9, Margaret, youngest 
daughter, married John L. Joxes, and they live somewhere 
in Texas. J. G. Adams of Glenrose, Texas, can give you the 
postoffices of most of the relatives in Texas. David Washing- 
ton Fowler died in 1865. 

"VIII. LOACINTHA, married William Eeed, and had a 
large family, but all her children died voung; only two 
daughters are now living; Loacintha died in 1884. 

"IX. MARTHA, married William Geavlee, and had 
seven sons and three or four daughters. I believe that two 
of her daughters live in Walker County (Alabama?); the 
address of one of her sons Is Waller (or Walter?) Gravlee, 
Jasper, Walker Count}', Alabama. Martha Fowler Gravlee 
died about the year 1855.'' 

Mr. Musgrove concludes his data thus: "Most of John 
Fowlers descendants are farmers, while some of them are 
engaged in other pursuits. Most of his sons-in-law were 
farmers also, three of whom served their State in the House 
of Representatives. Most of the family of this State are 
Baptists in religious belief, also Democrats in politics; all 
who were subject to military duty at the time of the Civil 
War served the Southern Confederacy." 



to whom I am indebted for a trace of the descendants of John 
Fowler, in Alabama. He wrote: "Mr. John Fowler settled in this 
county many years ago, in a cove about six miles west of Blounts- 
ville, which is known as Fowler's Cove to the present day. He 
left a son David who lived and died in the cove on the same farm, 
and he left a son David, perhaps on the same farm, who is still liv- 
ing." 



58 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

DESCENIDANTS OF JOHN FOWLER MUSGROVE AND MARTHA 
(COWDER) MUSGROVE. 

John Fowler Musgrove, youngest son of Sallie (Fowler) 
M. and William Henry Musgrove^ born April 16, 1836, mar- 
ried Martha Cowder (born April 21, 1849), March 5, 1873,, 
had eight children: 

1. Sallie Rosabelle, born March 19, 1874; married Eobert 
M. Stroud, December 20, 1899, and went with him to his 
home near Astell, Ga. 

2. William Carroll, born June 3, 1875; is unmarried and 
lives with his parents. 

3. Joseph Schwarts, born April 21, 1877; is attending 
school in Blountsville, Blount County, xA.labama. 

4. Xancy Eliza, born March 6, 1879; married William M. 
McAnnally, December 4, 1896; lives in the neighborhood of 
her parents. 

5. Martha Selemina, born April 28, 1881; is unmarried 
and lives with her parents near Bangor, Blount County, 
Alabama. 

6. Dora Pearl, born August 29, 1883; also unmarried and 
living at home. 

7. John Edward, born October 31, 1886. 

8. Henry Pinkney, born September 22, 1891. 

EXTRACTS FROM MR. MUSGROVE'S LETTER. 

"In reply to your questions, I have to say that my grand- 
father John Fowler was not a Primitive Baptist preacher. 
I think he belonged to the Cahooga Association in North 
Carolina, and when that association divided on the mission- 
ary question, he went with the Missionary branch. He 
began preaching in the early settlement of Alabama. An 
early Baptist church was organized either in his dwelling 
or a house he had built for his home, and he moved out and 
gave it up for a church and built himself another home. 
Later he built a nice little church with his own means prin- 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 59 

cipally^ which church is still standing and occupied by the 
same church organization that began in his own house. The 
old church records were destroyed during the Civil Wa^- " 
[I am sorry that Mr. Musgrove neglected to mention the 
name and locality of the old Missionary Baptist church.] 

^'Of the three sons-in-law of the Eev. John Fowler who 
served in the Alabama Legislature, my father, William 
Henry Musgrove, was first elected about 1828 or '29. He 
served in the House two terms in succession and one in the 
Senate. His next public service was that of trustee of the 
Alabama University. He was a captain of cavalry in the 
United States service in the war with the Creeks and Semi- 
nole Indians in 1836. In 1842 he again represented his 
State in the Legislature, but for only one term. After that 
time he spent his years preaching and teaching school. He 
was a Baptist preacher. At the beginning of the war he 
raised a company of infantry and went into the Confederate 
service September 28, 1861, and remained in active service 
till his death, March 6, 1862, in his sixty-sixth year. 

^'I went to the war with my father in 1861 and remained 
with that company until September, 1862, when I was made 
a lieutenant of a cavalry company under Wheeler's com- 
mand, in which I served till August, 1864, when I was 
wounded at the battle of Atlanta, and was after that unfit 
for military duty. 

^'From the best information I am able to get, William 
Eeede,- another son-in-law of the Eev. John Fowler, was a 
member of the House in 1858 and served one term; and 
William Gravlee, another son-in-law, represented Alabama 
in the winter of '61-'62. 

"1 think your father^ was in this State when he was just 
about grown. There was a Methodist preacher, the Eev. 
Littleton Fowler, who was in this part of the country some 

-My father, A. Jack Fowler, was in La Grange College, Alabama, 
at the time mentioned by ]\Ii-. Musgrove. The Rev. Littleton Fowler 
was financial agent for that college at the same time, and of course 
his duties took him all over the State, and I dare say he visited his 
Fowler kindred often. 



60 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

time, and your father was here about the same time. It was 
before my recollection, but I have heard of them so much 
that I feel almost acquainted with them. J. F. Musgrove, 
Bangor, Blount County, Alabama.^' 



CHAPTER V. 

''It is by teaching that we teach ourselves, by relating that we ob- 
serve, by affirming that we examine, b}^ showing that we look, by 
writing that we think." — [Amiel. 

GODFREY FOWLER, JR., FOUNDER OF THE FOWLER FAMILY IN 
KENTUCKY, 

Was the fourth son of GODFREY FOWLER, SR., who was 
the third son of JOSEPH THE FIRST, THE FOUNDER 
OF THE FOWLER FAMILY IN WAKE COUNTY, 
NORTH CAROLINA. To repeat, Joseph the First had five 
sons: BuIIard, William Anderson, Godfrey, Joseph, and 
Burwell. Godfrey (Sr.) had six sons: David, Joseph, John, 
Godfrey, Jr., Bullard, and William. 

GODFREY, JR., married prior to the death of his father, 
which death occurred in 1796, the same year of the birth of 
the two eldest sons — twins — of Godfrey, Jr. There is no 
date of his marriage, but it is presumed that it occurred in 
North Carolina just previous to his emigration to Tennessee. 
However, it is positively known that he married CLARA 
WRIGHT, a daughter of a North Carolina family, and that 
he moved to Smith County, Tennessee, during the last decade 
of 1700, for Wiley Paul Fowler, the third son of Godfrey, 
Jr., was born in the latter place in 1799, as was Littleton 
Fowler, the fourth son, in 1802. Some of the Wrights went 
to Smith County, Tennessee, also, for elsewhere is an account 
of their emigration to the Spanish Province of Texas in 
1816. 

GODFREY FOWLER (JR.) removed to near Princeton, 
Ky., in 1806. (See Redford's "Methodism in Kentucky," in 
the chapter of the sketch of the Rev. Littleton Fowler, who 
was the young Kentucky preacher and later a missionary to 
the Republic of Texas, 1837.) To summarize: JOSEPH 
WRIGHT and JOHN HOPKINS— twins— were born in 



62 ANNAL& OF THE FOWLER FAMILT. 

either Xortli Carolina or Smith County, Tennessee, — the 
latter place most likely; AMLLIAM ("WILEY^^) PAUL 
and LITTLETON were born in Smith County, Tennessee, 
as has been recorded; WHERE AXD WHEX BRADFOED 
C. AND JERRY were born is not known; POLLY ANN 
(FOWLER) WILSON and ANDREW JACKSON were 
born at the old pioneer homestead of iheir father near 
Princeton, Caldwell County, Kentucky. 

JERRY", the sixth son of Godfrey, Jr., lived to maturity, 
but it is believed that he died before 1837, as there is no 
mention made of him in the family correspondence from 
that time. My mother (widow of A. J. Fowler, the seventh 
and youngest son of Godfrey, Jr.), remembers that Jerry 
died from a l)ear fight near Jonesbofo, Arkansas. He 
caught some cubs for sport in a field, but the mother-bear 
attacked him so fiercely that he had to fight for his life; 
the struggle was long and violent, he being unarmed except 
a knife, and, although he was rescued from instant death, 
he never recovered from the injuries received. My mother 
thinks that he joined the Wright cousins on Red River at an 
early day, perhaps in the tAventies, as we have seen that 
Bradford C. was here prior to the Texas War of Independ- 
ence, 183G, and John H. as early as 1817, his brother Wiley 
accompanying him and remaining in the Texas wilds about 
two years. It is possible that Jerry came out to his brother 
John on Red River. 

BRADFORD C. was married twice, yet it is not known 
that he left any children. He went to California during the 
gold excitement between '40 and the early '50s, and died 
there, date unknown. (See elsewhere and in family letters. 
Mrs. Peterson of Paris says he died childless.) 

GODFREY" FOWLER, JR., died at his pioneer home near 
Princeton; his malady was "quinsy." (See letter of Colonel 
J. H. Fowler.) He died on December 23, 1816, a year after 
the birth of his youngest child, A. J. Fowler, my father. The 
same day of the month of his death was the birthday of his 
eldest born sons, Joseph and John, who were just twenty 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 63 

years old that day. His widow survived him nine years; 
had married again, — the name of the man forgotten, — but 
I remember hearing my father say that he was very unkind 
to her and her two little ones, Polly Ann and "Jack." The 
•old buj-ying ground at the old Kentucky homestead is now 
grown up in trees, therefore the resting place of all is en-, 
tirely obliterated. It is, or should he, consecrated ground to 
the descendants, who should mark the spot with a granite 
shaft bearing the names of the long departed founders of 
that home in a wilderness. 

JOHN HOPKINS FOWLER, OF PARIS, TEXAS, 

Twin brother of JOSEPH WRIGHT FOWLEE, and eldest 
born sons of GODFREY FOWLER and CLARA AYRIGHT, 
his wife, was born ' December 23, 1T96, in Smith County, 
Tennessee (it is presumed) ; he married Mrs. Elizabeth 
Alexander, September 3G, 1837, in Hempstead County, Ar- 
kansas. Children, one daughter and one son. He died 
October 12, 18T3, Paris, Texas, and is buried there. 

I. SUSAX CLARA, born January 10, 1839, Red River 
County, Republic of Texas; married July 9, 1857, to Richard 
Peterson, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, October 10, 
1831. Issue, several children, one daughter living to ma- 
turity: 1, MOLLIE, born Septein]3er 1, 1858, was educated 
at Paris, Texas, and Monticello Seminary, Godfrey, 111. ; 
married March 19, 1879, to ^l. C. Meehan, Paris, Texas. 
Issue, one son, ROI, born March 19, 1880, Sherman, Texas; 
educated at Paris, Texas, and at Christian Brothers College, 
St. Louis, Mo. 

II. JOHN LITTLETON FOWLER, born September 9, 
1840, Red River County, Republic of Texas; educated at 
pioneer Texas schools and McKenzie College, Clarksville, 
Texas; served in the Confederate army; married Marea 
Maness, June 2, 1868, Roxton, Texas. Issue, five daughters 
and one son, four daughters living to maturity: 1, SUSAN" 
ADELLA, born April 29, 1869, Roxton, Texas; educated at 



64 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Paris and Laselle Seminary, Massachusetts; married to Wil- 
liam A. Arthur of Texarkana, x4rk., March 24, 1899, Paris, 
Texas; 2, JOHXETTA, born December 14, 1871, Brooks- 
ton, Texas; educated at Paris and Laselle Seminar}^, Massa- 
chusetts, studying music in Philadelphia and Xew York; 
married to Robert Ewing Harris of Clarksville, Texas, June 
3, 1896, at Paris, Texas; 3, NORA ESTELLE, born July 
11, 1875, Brookston, Texas; educated at Paris, Texas, Bel- 
mont College, Nashville, Tenn., and Laselle Seminary, near 
Boston, Mass.; unmarried; 4, DOROTHY, born January 31, 
1877, Brookston, Texas; educated at Paris, Belmont, Tenn., 
and Clifton, Cincinnati, 0., spending one year in the study 
of music in Philadelphia in company of her sister Nora; 
married September 14, 1898, Paris, Texas, to Edward Gibson 
GiBBOXS of Paris, Texas. 

JOHX HOPKIXS FOWLER^ OF TEXAS, RED RIVER AXD LAMAR 
COUXTIES, 

Twin brother of Joseph Wright Eowler of Princeton, Ky., 
and eldest born sons of Godfrey Fowler of Princeton, Ky., 
emigrated to the Spanish province of Texas in the year 1817, 
locating on Red River, on what is now the Arkansas side. 
He came in company of his younger brother, Wiley P., and 
his two Wright cousins. The time was following his father's 
death just one year, when he had only attained his majority. 
He was visited December, 1833, at his home on Red River, 
by his brother Littleton, who was then traveling for La 
Grange College, Alabama, the then eminent Methodist col- 
lege of the South. Littleton, in his Journal No. 1, speaks of 
his emotion on seeing his brother once again; perhaps it was 
the first time during the period of seventeen years, as travel 
w^as then too laborious and dangerous for many pleasure trips 
back to the old home for far-away settlers of new and remote 
countries. To quote literally from the journal, "His wife is 
in very low health'' (1833). This establishes the fact that 
J. H. Fowler was married at that time. 



^T^^. 





MRS. SUSAN (fowler) PETERSON, PARIS, TEXAS. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 65 

By another entry in the Journal No. 2, we learn of a 
second marriage^ in 1837. He represented Eed River County 
in the Congress of the Texas Republic the winter of 1838, 
at Houston, in the Senate. He was a very public-spirited 
man and a prominent business man of Xorth Texas. He 
owned extensive landed estates, which have descended to his 
only two children and their heirs. He wrote a great deal for 
the newspapers of his day. He was much given to versifying. 
At the outbreak of the war between the States, to which he 
was bitterly opposed, he wrote a song which was very popular 
with the small anti-war party of the South. The first couplet 
was: 

"Ruffled shirts made the war. 
But copperas breeches fouglit it,"' 

sung to the air of Yankee Doodle. I have heard the song 
in my earliest remembrance. 

He lived a number of years with his only daughter, 
Susan Clara (/'Sue"), Mrs. R. Peterson, before his death, 
which occurred October 12, 1873, at the ripe age of Seventy- 
seven. He is buried in the Paris cemetery. She is devoted 
to her father's memory. She greatly resembles him, having 
his features, but fine dark eyes, the latter being an inherit- 
ance from the Wrights, as the Fowlers are usually dis- 
tinctively fair. She is a handsome, distinguished looking 
woman, of great strength of character, possessing many 
lovable characteristics. She has a well-cultivated mind, 
stored with countless treasures of historical and literary 
worth. Her husband is an educated gentleman of financial 
prominence. Her only child. Mollie, Mrs. Meehan, is small 
and vivacious, resembling her father's family, I opine, as she 
has few of the distinguishing traits or features of the 
Fowlers. She has always been devoted to fashionable, social 
life, but is one of the brainiest of that usually shallow fol- 
lowing it has ever been my good fortune to know. Her con- 
versational powers are of the finest; her words flash with wit 
and wisdom. 

5 — Fowler. 



66 AXXAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have traveled extensively in 
America and in tlie old world, Europe. The}^ and their 
family have spent their summers in the eastern States for 
many years. Mrs. Meehan is gifted in art, and it is a lament- 
able fact that she never cultivated her conspicuous talent. 
Eoi Meehan, the only grandson, is a well-favored, manly 
young man not yet of age, of whom we are lead to expect an 
earnest, creditable part in life. 

Mr. Eichard Peterson Imilt the Peterson Hotel and Peter- 
son's Theater, Ijoth of Paris. They were a credit to the 
town, as they were both substantial and ornamental. The 
Hotel Peterson was burned some few years ago, much to the* 
regret of all, for it was the most commodious hotel of the 
town. Mr. Peterson is a very pul)lic-spirited citizen. He 
has leisure to devote to literary research, especially to Span- 
ish literature, in which language he delights; he is also very 
fond of travel. 

JOIIX LITTLETON FOWLER, 

Only son of Colonel John Hopkins Fowler and his wife, 
formerly Mrs. Elizabeth Alexander, was born in Clarksville, 
Red River County, Texas, September 9, 1840. He attended 
the ordinary Texas schools until he entered McKenzie Col- 
lege, Clarksville, Red River County, an eminent Methodist 
institution before the war. He had not finished his educa- 
tion there before the outbreak of hostilities took him, with 
many other young men of Texas, from the college ranks to 
the ranks of the Confederate army. I have been unable to 
learn his war record, but there is a military report before 
me, dated "Aug. 28-29, 1862,'' signed "J. C. Bates, Capt. 
Co. K, Sturnum's Reg. S. S., J. L. Fowler, Orderly Ser- 
jeant." The name of the military station is illegible. Here 
is another old document which takes one back to war times: 
''^Office of Provost Marshal, Paducah, Ky., April 20, 1865.— 
Permission is granted to J. L. Fowler to pass beyond the 
guards and outposts of this command to the country. Light 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY 



hair, gray eyes, light complexion, G feet inches high. 
Peculiarities, 0. By Command of J. J. Guppey, Colonel 
Commanding Post; Wm. Gogan, Captain and Provost Mar- 
shal. Issued by M. C. Milledge. Good for 30 days." 

He served through the conflict and when peace ensued he 
went to Paducah, Ky., where he remained a year with his 
Fowler relatives there in the wharfboat business. He then 
returned to Texas, where his father had rich landed inter- 
ests. On June 2, 1868, he married Miss Marea Maness (who 
was born at Bay Springs, Miss.), at the home of her sister, 
Mrs. W. M. Klyce, in Roxton, Lamar County. Five 
daughters and two sons were born to them, four daughters 
living to maturity: Susan Adella, Johnetta, Nora Estelle, 
and Dorothy. He lived at Roxton the first year of his mar- 
riage, then moved to Brookston, where he took charge of his 
large cotton plantation. His daughters w^ere placed under 
the instruction of a governess, Mrs. Andrew Calhoun, until 
his removal to Paris in 1880, when they were placed in the 
private school of -Mrs. R. Vesey. 

In 1885 Adella entered Daughter's College, Harrodsburg, 
Ivy., ])ut was called home in April, 1886, by the death of her 
father. In September, 1888, she and her sister next in age, 
Etta, entered Laselle Seminary, Auburndale, a suburb of 
Boston, Mass., where they continued tw^o years. In the 
winter of 1892 Etta went to Philadelphia and New York 
to continue the culture of her voice begun in Boston, con- 
tinuing at the two places two years. In 1892 Nora and 
Dorothy entered BelmoiAt College, Nashville, Tenn. Tlie 
autumn of 1894 Nora went to Laselle, remaining a year. In 
1896 Dorothy went to the Misses Harbough, Clifton, Cin- 
cinnati. August, 1897, Nora and Dorothy went to Philadel- 
phia for a year's study in music. 

Della^ was married March 24, 1899, to William A. Arthur, 

^Adele Arthur, born March .24, 1900, at Texarkana, Texas, the 
first marriage anniversary of her parents. I spent a delightful two 
weeks in Eureka Springs, at the INIagnetic Springs Hotel, in June, 
1001, in company of Mr. and Mrs. Peterson and Mrs. W. A. Arthur, 
^^ith her little Adele. 



68 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

who is engaged in the cotton business in Texarkana, Ark. 
They are now touring Europe (the summer of 1899). On 
June 3, 1896, Etta was married to Rohert Ewing Harris, of 
Clarksville, Texas; he is the traveling agent of a St. Louis 
firm. On September 14, 1898, Dorothy was married to Ed- 
ward Gibson Gibbons, of Paris; he is connected with the 
City National Bank of that city. (See i)hoto of the little 
bride.) 

They were all comely, attractive young ladies, enjoying a 
social life of ease and pleasure. Delia is devoted to her 
church — the Episco])al — and its duties; she was the most 
studious daughter and is fond of music, literature, and art. 
Etta had a voice richly sweei, full of alluring promises, but 
an injudicious application lo its cultivation resulted in its 
loss. Xora has so far declined the prosaic state of matri- 
mon}^, preferring the life of a social butterfly of fashion; 
her picture appeared in Munsey's Magazine, in 1898, as the 
photograj^h of a Texas beauty and belle. Etta is the only 
brunette of the Cfuartette of sisters, the other three are de- 
cidedly of the blonde type. Dorothy is small and winsome. 
Their mother has a bearing of gentle reserve; she is devoted 
to her daughters and the memory of the husband of her 
youth. She is a member of the Methodist church, as was 
her husband. She still resides in Paris, Texas. 

Mr. Fowler was a plain, unpretentious man whom to know 
well was to appreciate the more his real worth. He was a 
thorough student of the law, for which he had a fondness 
and a decided aptitude, Imt Ids property interests consumed 
too much of his time for him to follow any profession with 
justice to himself. He never enjoyed robust health after his 
return from the war. He was confined to his room nearly a 
year before his death; a few days before the end came he 
v.'as taken back to his first country home after his marriage, 
at Roxton, where it was fondly hoped and believed that the 
country, with its fields and flowers and spring-time air, 
might mitigate his sutt'erings. He died in the religion of 
his fathers, April 5, 188G, and Paris realized it had lost one 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 69 



of its best and most substantial citizens. Tliere were full 
sketches of his life and citizenship published immediately 
subsequent to his demise^ ]nit none are accessible at this 
^Yriting. Following are two locals clipped from a paper sent 
to me by the sister of the deceased, Mrs. Sue Peterson, to 
convey the tidings of his death : 

"A Good Man"^ Gone.— The friends of John L. Fowler will 
!je pained to hear of his death from a complication of dis- 
eases, which occurred at the home of his brother-in-law. Dr. 
M. D. Maness, in Ptoxton, at 7 :20 o'clock yesterday morning. 
Tlie deceased had been a resident of this county many years, 
oeing bornjn Eed Eiver County, from which came Lamar. 
There were few such men as John Fowler; he was thaf 
noblest work of God, an honest man. His funeral^ will be 
at the Methodist church this afternoon at 3 ox-lock, the 
interment later at the Evergreen cemetery." 

"A long procession of friends and relatives accompanied 
the remains of John L. Fowler from Eoxton to Paris yes- 
terday. The funeral services were at the Methodist church, 
where the large number of friends assembled, notwithstand- 
ing the excitement of the day, showed in what high esteem 
tlie deceased was held by the people of Paris. After the 
funeral sermon the sad procession moved on to the cemetery, 
where the body was laid to rest. Peace to his ashes! He 
was a friend ever kind and true.'' 

THE HARRIS-FOWLER WEDDIXG AT PARIS, TEXAS, JUNE 3, 1897. 

"At 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning of June 3d, the 
Harris-Fowler bridal party, composed of beautiful women 
and handsome men, marched down flower-covered aisles of 
the First Presbyterian church to meet at the elaborately 
decorated altar, to strains of enchanting music. Palms, 
ferns, roses, magnolias, and sweet-pea blossoms, in lavish 
profusion, perfumed the June morning. Eev. C. P. Bride- 
well, assisted by Eev. J. G. Harris of Clarksville, Texas, 
grandfather of the groom, performed the impressive cere- 



7u ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

mony which united Mr. Eobert Ewing Harris, Jr., of Chirks- 
ville, Texas, and Miss Johnetta Fowler of this city, in the 
holy bonds of matrimony. During the solemn words of the 
holy ordinance, a voice as soft and sweet as the subdued notes 
of the nightingale came floating over the palms in De 
Koven's exquisite song, '0 Promise Me.' The bridesmaids 
were Misses Adell and Xora Fowler, sisters of the bride, and 
Misses Kate Gibbons and In a Brooks, with Miss Dorothy 
Fowler, youngest sister of the bride, maid of honor, and ]\Ir. 
Tom Klawson of St. Louis as best man. The ushers were 
Messrs. Burghardt Zeis of Boston, Mass.; Sidney Harmon, 
Walter Shipley, and W. E. Greiner of this city. As the party 
marched out the center aisle, Mrs. M. R. Bruckner sang 
Dudley. Buck's 'Rejoice.' They took carriages and were 
driven to the residence of the bride's mother, on Bonham 
Street. Shortly afterwards the happy couple took the Santa 
Fe for St. Louis, where they will remain until September. 

"The bride was attired in an elegant gown of white chiffon 
over white duchess satin, trimmed with pearl passementerie, 
with a veil draped wit4a sweet-pea blossoms, and she carried 
a bouquet of bride-roses. Miss Dorothy Fowler, maid of 
honor, wore white organdie over white satin and carried a 
bouquet of pea blossoms, tied with white ribbon. Misses x\dell 
and Nora Fowler looked charming in pale blue organdie 
gowns, while Misses Gibbons and Brooks wore gowns of light 
yellow organdie over satin. All the bridesmaids wore large 
chiffon hats laden with sweet-pea blossoms and carried 
bouquets of the same flowers, tied with white ribbon. The 
gentlemen wore the regulation morning suits^ with 
bouttonieres of sweet peas — the wedding flower. 

"Miss Fowler was one of Paris' fairest daughters, loved 
and admired by all wlio knew her, and we congratulate Mr, 
Harris upon winning such a prize. Mr. Harris, while not a 
resident of our city, is well known here as a young man of 
flne social and business qualities. 'Happy is the bride the 
sun shines on,' and our wish for them is that their lives may 
be as bright and unclouded as was their wedding-day. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 71 

"Wedding Xotes.— Mr. E. H. Harris, Rev. J. G. Harris 
of Clarksville, with K. H. Harris of St. Louis, attended the 
Harris-Fowler wedding. 

''On Tuesday evening, June 2d, Mr. E. E. Harris enter- 
tained a number of his bachelor friends at dinner at the 
Lamar Hotel. 

"Never was Mendelssohn's Wedding March more beauti- 
fully rendered than under the skillful fingers of Mrs. Charles 
Massie Eagiand, on the occasion of the Harris-Fowler wed- 
ding." — [From "The Fan/^ the Paris Society Paper. 

I have a large photograph of the bridal group, with the 
mother of the bride, taken on the steps of the Fowler home- 
stead immediately on their return from church. The bride 
moved and spoiled her picture, while all of the others are 
taken finely. They made a pretty party, especially the 
ladies. 

The following is clipped from a Paris paper: "A Society 
Wedding — Brilliant Xuptials at the First Presbyterian 
Church. — The auditorium of the First Presbyterian church 
was thronged at 8 :30 o'clock last evening by the fashionable 
people of Paris to witness the nuptials of Mr. Edward G. 
Gibbons and Miss Dorothy Fowler, which were solemnized 
by Eev. J. D. Leslie, the pastor. The event was the most 
interesting and imposing of the kind that has occurred in 
our city in many a day. The decorations around the altar, 
consisting of palms, ferns, and many rare flowers, were 
arranged with exquisite taste. In front of the altar hung a 
large floral bell suspended from an arch of roses, under 
which the bride and groom stood while being made man and 
wife. 

"Mrs. Eobert Harris of Temple, a sister of the bride, was 
matron of honor. The little flower girls were Eugenie Moore^ 
Mary Birmingham, Isabel Dean, and Marv Emma Haile. 
These well know^n society ladies and gentlemen were the 
attendants: Miss Nora Estelle Fowler, sister of the bride, 
maid of honor, with John Gibbons, Jr., brother of the groom, 
the best man; Miss Olive Craig and Mr. Smith Owenby, 



72 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Miss Mary Daniel and Mr. Floyd Taylor, of Waco; Miss 
Mabel Daily and Mr. Ed. Record, Miss Lncile Doss of Bon- 
ham and Mr. Hugh Martin. 

"The bride was attired in white duchess satin, en traine, 
trimmed with rich point lace; her veil was confined with 
orange blossoms. Miss N^ora Fowler, the maid of honor, also 
wore a white duchess satin and looked pretty enough to be 
a bride. Miss lo Fuller presided at the organ and was 
accompanied by Miss Van Wagner on the violin, while fifteen 
or twenty male and female voices joined in the bridal chorus, 
the music and chorus both being rendered most impressively. 

"'^After the ceremony a reception was given to the bridal 
party at the home of the bride's mother, on Bonham Street. 
This morning the groom and bride leave for a three weeks' 
tour through Colorado. Mr. Gibbons and Miss Fowler were 
both reared in Paris and are members of two of the oldest 
and best families in the city. They start on life's voyage 
under the most flattering auspices and have hosts of friends 
who feel a warm personal interest in their future happi- 
ness." (See the little bride.) 

The eldest sister, Adella, had a very quiet home wedding, 
when she surprised all of her friends by marrying another 
suitor tlian the one decided on by them and the public. 

Here is another newspaper personal: "A Fair Texan 
Typified.— The Puritan for October [1898] contains a beau- 
tiful photo-engraving of one of the fairest daughters of our 
Lone Star State, Miss Xora Estelle Fowler, of Paris, Texas. 
Miss Fowler is well known in this city [Galveston] where 
she has many friends and admirers, all of whom indorse the 
compliment the Puritan confers on Texas in choosing her 
portrait." — [Galveston News. 

^^ From "Tlie King's Messenger," Dallas, Texas, May, 1899 : 
"A Talk With Girls About Home.— Dear girls, do you re- 
member once when I was in Paris, Texas, I wrote you of a 
beautiful, grand girl wlio shared her home with me? She 
miglit not like for me to call her name, for she has that 
charming modesty so highly prized in woman, so I shall just 




LITTLETON FOWLER OF KENTUCKY, HIS BETROTHED, 
HER MOTHER. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 73 



whisper her name,— it was Miss Delia F.— Well, dear as her 
name was to me I was happy to hear she had changed it, and 
had gone to make another home for one in whose heart she 
is to reign empress, queen ! Let ns bow our heads and invoke 
a blessing on that new home which will make it a place that 
tlie world can not add to or take from." This beautiful 
tribute is paid to Delia Fowler, who has become Mrs. William 
A. Arthur; a Christian worker and King's Daughter she has 
been for some years. This emphasizes the truth that every 
one has his or her place to fill in this world and life. 

JOSEPH WRIGHT FOW^LEE OF PRINCETON, KENTUCKY, 

TWIN BROTHER OF JOHN^ HOPKINS FOWLER OF 
TEXAS, eldest born sons of CxODFREY FOWLER, JR., 
and CLARA WRIGHT, his wife, of Princeton, Ky., was 
born in Smith County, Tennessee (it is presumed), on De- 
cember 23, 1796; he married on September 8, 1825, Ollsf- 
SEY GRAY, of PRINCETON, KY., who was born April 
26, 1804; died March 25, 1844, Princeton. Joseph Wright 

Fowler died , 1844. They had nine children,— 

seven daughters and two sons : 

I. ELVIRA, born August 10, 1826; married April 18, 
1843, to Roger B. Snelling, formerly of Caldwell County, 
Kentucky, then of Platte County, Missouri. They had issue 
tliree sons and two daughters : 1, Adelia Ginsey, born Feb- 
ruary 9, 1844, died October 26, 1848, in Kentucky; 2, Joseph 
Green, born March 15, 1845, in Missouri, died October 1, 
1848, in Kentucky; 3, Cora Ellen, born January 24, 1847, 

c^ied ; 4, Vincent Cosby, born August 16, 1853, 

Yreka, Cal., resides at Red Bluff, Cal. ; 5, William Fowler, 

born February 28, 1855, Yreka, died • Elvira 

(Fowler) Snelling died November 29, 1856, Yreka, Cal. 

II. FRANKLIN LITTLETON, born January 9, 1828; 
married Harriet C. Love of Nashville, Tenn., on May 8, 
1851, who died within a year of her marriage. He died 
February, 1860, at the home of his uncle. Judge W. P. 



74 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



Fowler, Smithlancl, Ky., and is buried in the Paducali ceme- 
tery. (See letter.) 

III. JULIAX, born September 19, 1829 ; married James 
E. Smallwood, March 5, 1848. Issue, two children, the 
first born a girl. Julian (Fowler) Smallwood died April 
10, 1852, in Independence, Mo. (See subjoined letter.) 

IV. ARAMINTA, born April 1, 1833; married to B. S. 

Grubbs, . Issue, seventeen children. She is widowed 

and resides in Kentucky, posioffice unknowm. 

V. HENKY CLAY, born January 20, 1835, died March 
25, 1868, in Yreka, Cal. 

YI. LUCIXDA, born May 12, 1837; married to John 
Dabney Cosby, April 4, 1854, Yreka. Issue, three sons and 
one daughter: 1, Dabney Carr, born August 27, 1855, 
ITreka, died January 5, 1862; 2, Josepli Wright, born iiugust 
7, 1857, died February 10, 1861; 3, Lydia Ginsey, born July 
6, 1859, died December 21, 1861, Yreka; 4, John Dabney, 
Jr., born November 18, 1861. ("Last account he was mar- 
ried and lived in Boise, Idaho,^^ said his half-brother, James 
Edward Wheeler, Yreka.) John Dabney Cosby, Sr., died 
May 15, 1861. Lucinda (Fowler) Cosby, his widow, married 
James E. Wheelee, November 26, 1863. Issue, three sons 
and one daughter: 1, William, born April 9, 1865, died 
October 22, 1866. 11. James Edward, born June 9, 1867; 
married Lillian Francis Love (born April 25, 1877, Tehama 
County, Cal.), at Eedding, Shasta County, California, No- 
vember 25, 1896. Issue, one daughter, Francis Olive, born 
at Sisson, Siskiyou County, California, May 29, 1898. III. 
Frederick Clay, born August 25, 1868 ; married Annie Eliza 
Jane McCarton (who was born February 10, 1866, at Fort 
Jones, Siskiyou Count}'', California), on June 22, 1892, at 
Yreka. Issue, two daughters, Nora Etta, born October 11, 
1893, at Humbug, a little mining town near Yreka ; 2, Annie 
Laurie Louisa, born November 18, 1897, at Yreka. IV. 
ANNIE, born September 3, 1871, died January 27, 1874. 
Lucinda (Fowler) Wheeler died April 18, 1883, Yreka. 
James E. Wheeler, her husband, died September — , 1893. 



. ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 75 

Their two sonS;, their only living children, are respected citi- 
zens of Yreka, Cal. 

VII. JOSEPHII^E, born May 23, 1839, died May 3, 
1847. 

VIII. LYDIA CLARA, born November 11, 1841, died 
February — , 1864, Padncah, Ivy. She lies buried beside her 
devoted brother, Franklin Littleton Fowler. 

IX. GIXSEY COSBY, born March 7, 1844, Princeton, 
Ky. ; married June 11, 1861, Yreka, to William S. R. Taylor, 
who was born September 17, 1824, Kirkwall, Orkney Isles, 
Scotland. Issue, two daughters and one son: 1, Annie 
Logic, born August 19, 1862, Yreka; married to Herman 
Grey Squier (born in Gibsonville, Cal., October 26, 1861), 
on May 19, 1887. Issue, three daughters: 1, Alma May, 
born March 11, 1888, Greenville, Cal.; 2, Silva Ginsey, born 
May 18, 1889, Quincy, Cal.; 3, Annie Florilla, born Novem- 
ber 10, 1890, Quincy, Cal. II. Ginsey Fowler, born August 
10, 1864, Arcate, Cal.; is unmarried and resides with her 
mother in San Jose, Cal. III. Wilfred Montague, born 
October 11, 1867; married Emily Louise Thayer- (who was 
born August 7, 1867), on February 22, 1889. Issue, two 
sons and one daughter; 1, Wilfred Allen, born January 5, 
1890; 2, Herbert Leslie, born September 23, 1891; 3, Harold 
Monroe, born October 16, 1894; 4, Ginsey Winnifred, born 
January 24, 1896. 

William S. R. Taylor died April ,10, 1894, San Fran- 
cisco. 

LETTER FROM MRS. GIN'SEY COSBY (fOWLER) TAYLOR, OF SAN" 
JOSE, CALIFORNIA. 

"July 6, 1899.— Mrs. J. J. Arthur: My nephew, James 
E. Wheeler, of Yreka, son of my sister Lucinda, sent me 

-Thaj^er data. Emily Louise Thayer is the daughter of Amasa 
and Adelia Maria ( Sprague ) Thayer. Amasa was tlie son of Charles 
and Sarah Thayer. Adelia Maria was the daughter of the Rev. 
Isaac Newton Sprague and Adelia Maria Sprague, whose mother's 
name was Hannah Hart. 



ANIi'ALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY 



your letter of June ^^tli, making inquiries of his mother and 
myself. The inclosed notes taken from my father's family 
'Bible are all the information I can furnish you of the 
children of Joseph Wright Fowler at present. I hope these 
will prove of interest to you. Of his nine children I believe 
I am the only one living at the present, as I have not heard 
from my sister Araminta for 'many years.'' [She was traced 
later, and the two surviving sisters were united in cor- 
respondence through my efforts.] 

'^In 1852, in company of sister Elvira, her husband (Mr. 
Snelling), and their little daughter, with brother Henry 
Cla}^, and sister Julia and her husband (Mr. Smallwood), 
their little daughter, and sister Lucinda, I left Kentucky 
for California. Sister Julia^ died in Independence, Mo., 
leaving a babe ten days old. Her two children were left with 
friends and the rest of us continued our journey westward. 
We left St. Joseph, Mo., with ox teams, crossed the conti- 
nent, and arrived at Yreka, Cal., in November, 1852. In ^53 
Mr. vSmallwood returned to Missouri for his children and 
we never heard from him again. 

"Of sister Elvira's children only one is living, — a son, 
Vincent Cosby Snelling, who resides at Eed Bluff, Cal. Two 
sons survive sister Lucinda; both are highly respected young 
men; both are married and each has a daughter. 

"June 11, 1861, I married Wm. S. E. Taylor, who in 1863 
was major First Battalion California ]\Iountaineers, and 
was sent to Camp Gaston lo fight the Indians. He died 
April 10, 1894, in San Francisco. Since then I have resided 
with my daughter, Mrs. H. G. Squier, whose husband is the 
Principal of the Sunol Hester School, San Jose. They have 
three lovely daughters. My other daughter, Ginsey, is 
with us. 

"When war was declared with Spain, my son, Wilfred M. 

^As Julia, Mrs. Smallwood, died on the way, when the family had 
gone as far as Missouri, it is presumed that they all left Kentucky 
in the early spring of 1852. Mrs. Taylor fails to mention the date 
of departure. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 77 

Taylor, enlisted in the First IJegiment California Volunteers, 
and sailed for Manila, May 25, 1898. He was in the battle 
of Cavite, after which he became very ill from the terrible 
exposure, but — thank God — he is well now. Since August 
he has been chief clerk to the captain of Manila, and has 
given good satisfaction. He at present holds the position as 
a civilian, being honorahly discharged from the army. 

"When your book is published I shall be very glad to have 
a copy; it has been a long-cherished wish of mine to hear 
what had become of my father's brothers who went to Texas 
in 1837. I hope to hear from you soon again. Your Cali- 
fornia cousin, Ginsey Cosby (Fowler) Taylor.'^ 

To the foregoing information is added that given by Mrs. 
Joseph H. Fowler of Paducah, Ky., when appealed to for any 
data of the family of Joseph W. Fowler of Princeton, Ky. 
After repeating some of the above facts, she writes: "In 
1881 a letter came to your cousin Joe from Ginsey, Mrs. W. 
S. E. Taylor, San Francisco, Cal., in which slie mentioned, 
her sister Lucinda, Mrs. James Wheeler, who then lived in 
Yj-eka, Cal. 

"Littleton (Franklin Littleton), Araminta, and Lydia 
(Lydia Clara), remained in Kentucky when the others emi- 
grated to California. Littleton married Miss Harriet Love 
of Tennessee, who w^as a lovely young lady; she died within 
a year after their marriage. He died about the year 1860, 
at your uncle Wiley^s home (near Smithland), and was 
buried in Paducah. 

"His sister Lydia, a very accomplished and lovely girl, for 
whom he had tenderly cared as only a fond brother could, 
died in Paducah about the year 1865; she was buried by 
his side: Araminta married a Mr. Grubbs, of Caldwell 
County ; I do not know the number of her children. I believe 
she is still living'' [the year 1898]. 

I, the compiler of these family records, have two cherished 
gifts from my aunt Sallie, the wiie of Judge W. P. Fowler, 
of Smithland, whom I visited in 1874, in company of my 
brother Henry ; her presents were a l^eautiful Bible, covered 



78 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

with royal purple velvet, with rich gilt finishings; a pencil 
drawing b}- my cousin L3'dia, — the Bible was hers also, — and 
an ambrotype of my cousin Littleton and his affianced bride, 
with her mother sitting between them. The picture and 
drawing are still in my possession, but I gave the precious 
Bible to my younger brother, Frank B. Fowler, when he left 
home in 1882 to enter West Point Military Academy, New 
York, where he graduated in 1886. I have no idea where 
on earth it is to-da}^, but I pray that it carries a blessing 
wherever it may be. I have often grieved over its loss to 
me, and still entertain a fond hope of finding it some day; 
may it come hack, like bread cast on the waters. It is need- 
less to add that my brother did not care for it, or he would 
not have lost it. 

My aunt told me many things that endeared my dead 
young cousins to me. So many of her friends mentioned 
Lydia Fowler frequently, and with kindly regard, and fancied 
•I resembled her. They all concurred in pronouncing her 
very accomplished, elegant, «nd lovable. 

DESCENDANTS OF ARAMINTA ( FOWLER ) AND BAYLESS JEN- 
NINGS GEUBBS, FOPtj^,rERLY OF PRINCETON, CALDWELL 
COUNTY, KENTUCKY. 

ARAMIXTA FOWLER was the third daughter and 
fourth child of JOSEPH WRIGHT FOWLER of Prince- 
ton, Caldwell County, Kentucky, and GIXSEY (ORAA^)' 
FOWLER, his wife. Araminta was born April 1, 1833; she 
married Bayless Jennings Grubbs, August 23, 1849, at 
Princeton — it is presumed. Mr. Grubbs was Ijorn Xoveml^er 
8, 1803, in Caldwell County, Kentucky; he died May 19, 
1880 ; his widow survives him and resides near Gage, Ballard 
County, Kentucky. Their descendants are: 

I. FRANKLIN LITTLETON— named for Araminta's 
oldest brother — born September 5, 1850; married Byrdie 
Jennings, July 15, 1876; they reside in Henderson City; 
they have children: 1, Pearl Etta, born June, 187T; 2, Jes- 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 79 

sie, born Xovember, 1878 ; 3, Walter, born December, 1880 ; 
4, Lida, born November, 1882; 5, Lucian, born October, 
1886. 

II. JOSEPH FOWLER, born January 1, 1853; married 
Sarah Nichols in 1878; their children: Florence, Belle, 
Gland, James, Jean, Harold; the}^ reside in Texas, where 
Mr. Grnbbs is a Christian preacher. (See fuller data.) 

III. LYDIA MELISSA, born September 7, 1855; mar- 
ried John Marion Williams^. December 15, 1870; he died 
in 1872 and she in ^80, leaving a daughter, Myrtle Bishop, 
(born September, 1879), of a second marriage^ — to L. O. 
Bishop — of Kansas City, where she resides. 

IV. ENOCH GEOEGE, born June 14, 1858; married 
Ellen Ladd, December 23, 1880; their issue: 1, Major, born 
October 7, 1881; 2, Mardon, born August 18, 1883; 3, Claud, 
born August 30, 1886; they reside in McCracken County, 
Kentucky. 

V. GABRIELLA ELIZABETH, born March 25, 1860; 
married Nick I. Bearden, March 25, 1881; he died January 
16, 1898; she lives in Trigg County, Kentucky, and has two 
da'ughters : Etbel, born July 26, 1882, and Pearl, born Feb- 
ruary 29, 1884. 

VI. SARAH FRANCES, born January 15, 1864; mar- 
ried George Bearden, April 21, 1880; issue: 1, Urie L., 
born January 22, 1882; 2, David B., born February 12, 
1886; 3, Marvin L., born July 25, 1889; 4, William Guy, 
horn Septeml)er 4, 1891 ; they live in Ballard County, Ken- 
tucky. 

Vil. REUBEN CURRY, born July 25, 1866; married 
Jennie Perdue, November 8, 1892 ; issue : Rosa Belle, born 
February 23, 1-894; they reside in Paducah, Ky. 

VIII.^ ELISHA JANE, born October 12, 1868; died 
August 27, 1878. 

IX. ARAMINTA VICTORIA, born October 31, 1871; 
resides with her mother. 

These facts are given by Mrs. Araminta (Fowler) Grubbs 
herself. 



80 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



THE FAMILY QF JOSEPH FOWLEK GRUBBS AND SARAH J. 
NICHOLS GRUBBS. 

Joseph Fowler Gruljbs, the second-born son of Bay less Jen- 
nings Grnbbs and Araminta Fowler, his wife, daughter of 
Joseph Wright Fowler and Ginsey (Gray) Fowler of Prince- 
ton, Ky., was born January 1, 1853; he was for some years 
a Christian minister; he married Sarah J. Xichols on August 
20, 18T4. She vras born December 27, 1854. They had 
children : 

1. Florence Victoria, born May 2G, 1875. 
, 2. Belle Edna, born January 27, 1877. 

3. Claude Lawrence, born September 13, 1879. 

4. James Eomulus, born June 12, 1882. 

5. Frederick Eugene, born October 6, 1886. 

6. Elizabeth, born August 28, 1888 ; died November 26, 
.1891. 

7. Harold, born July 22, 1894. 

Belle Edna Grubbs was married to William Howard 
AValker, June 4, 1895; their children are: 1, Marguerite, 
born April 10, 1896; 2, Howard Monroe, born February 1, 
J 898. 

In the summer of 1899 I accidentally met Miss Florence 
Grubbs in Colorado at the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua at 
Boulder, one of the most interesting parts of that very in- 
teresting State. I observed her a day or so before I made up 
my mind whether I would like her, and when I concluded 
that I had found very much in her to admire, I made known 
to her our ties of blood, although somewhat remote. She 
is a noble, courageous girl, very sensible and dignified, but 
morbidly sensitive, as are too many of our temperament and 
blood. She is a teacher by profession, having taught ever 
since she was sixteen, or previously. She has artistic gifts, 
and longs to transfer the fleeting beauties of nature to per- 
manent canvas. We continue to correspond, exchanging book 
views and serious ideas and views of life. I well remember 
an ideally beautiful day we spent together with an interest- 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 81 

ing party of Texas ladies in South Cheyenne canyon, near 
Colorado Springs, where nature wears her ever enchanting 
smile. I earnestly hope to meet her again, and predict for 
her a useful life, and therefore a happy one, of intellectual- 
ity and Christianity. 

ADDITIOJ^AL INFORMATION OF MRS. ARAMINTA ( FOWLER ) 

GRUBBS. 

The following was written by Miss Mattie Fowler of 
Paducah, Ky., August 2, 1899: "Dear Cousin Dora: You 
ask for authentic information of our uncle Joe's family 
(Joseph Wright Fowler). You know he had a large family. 
An old neighbor of his has told me that he was a man of 
considerable wealth; that he owned the finest imported cattle 
of that day in Kentucky; he imported silk-worms at greai: 
expense just for the pleasure of seeing them spin. He mar- 
ried a Miss Gray; they died in a few months of each other 
(1(S44), leaving many children. Some of the elder sister^! 
and their husbands took some of the younger children to 
California, leaving two sisters and a brother in this State. 
Lydia, the youngest [mistake — she was next to tho youngest 
daughter], remained in papa's family a part of the time, but 
at the time she died she made her home with Mr. Gus Given 
and wife; they had no daughters and were devoted to her, 
for she grew up a lovely, cultured woman. 

"Among the older daughters was one named Araminta, 
for my grandmother, Araminta (Given) Fowler, wife of 
Judge W. P. Fowler, who was given to grandmother to bring 
up as her own. Papa says she was a bright, lovely little 
girl, thirteen years old, and most tenderly cared for in her 
new relations, grandpa directing her studies and reading, 
with grandma taking a mother's loving watch-care over the 
little orphan. But a year later grandma died, when the 
family was broken up. Grandpa could not be at home, as 
he was a circuit Judge, so his sons were taken by their 
mother's relatives, the older ones going into business for 

6 — Fowler. 



82 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

themselves. Araminta was then taken by her mother^s sis- 
ter, a Mrs. Petit, I believe, who lived at Princeton, when 
papa lost sight of her. Later he learned that she had mar- 
ried a Mr. Grnbbs, a man much older than herself, and was 
living somewhere near Princeton. 

"For fifty-three years papa had not heard directly from 
her, when last month her son-in-law came into the store and 
told papa that Cousin Araminta was coming to Paducah to 
make him a little visit. Well^ she and her youngest daughter 
arrived the next day. The story of her early youth was full 
of pathos, as told by herself. Her aunt was not kind to her, 
so she married young and has borne many children, the two 
youngest being twins, one of w^hom is living. She has two 
daughters married, one of whom she lives with in Ballard 
County. 

"She had not heard of any of her family in California in 
years. Mamma gave her Lydia^s picture and the address of 
her sister, Mrs. Taylor, in California. Cousin Araminta 
has the Fowler cast of features, and^ with an easier life, 
would have been a handsome woman.^' 

To the foregoing I am pleased to add that I helped to re- 
unite by correspondence the only two surviving children of 
Joseph Wright Fowler. They had lost each other in the 
lapse of time, and I discovered them to each other in my 
researches for family data in that line. They both have not 
yet ceased to thank m6 for it. I had the pleasure of aiding 
a descendant of A. Jack Fowler and one of his brother 
Joseph in meeting and knowing each other in the Philip- 
pines. Captain Godfrey Eees Fowler and Mr. Wilfred Tay- 
lor met and clasped hands on the other side of the world, 
both bound by the tie of the name of Fowler; thus the 
family paths crossed after many years, after more than half 
a century. Mr. Taylor had l)een very ill, and he went from 
Manila to the Isle of Corregidor, P. I., to recuperate; there 
he met Captain Fov/ler, who was the newly arrived Governor- 
General of the island, just over from "the States." They 
became fast friends at once, for I dare say that home and 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 83 

family ties liad a deeper meaning to them then than ever 
before. 

In April^ 1901, Godfrey Rees Fowier was mustered out of 
service of the United States volunteers of the Philippine 
Islands, in San Francisco, Cal. While in that city he called 
on Miss Ginsey Taylor, daughter of Mrs. Ginsey (Fowler) 
Taylor. He was much pleased with the young lady. Later, 
he visited Mrs. Taylor and her daughter, Mrs. Squiers, and 
the interesting family of young girls of the latter in their 
home in the beautiful San Jose Valley, at San Jose. This 
young kinsman was the first Fowler, excepting the members 
of her own immediate family, that Mrs. Taylor had ever 
seen. She wTote me afterward that her heart had often 
hungered for her kindred when she was a young woman, and 
she had wondered then how her father^s brothers could be 
so indiiferent to the welfare of the children of their dead 
brother, but she had since learned that it was a way of the 
world. Our fathers had excuses to plead for them then, 
which we of the rushing to-day have not. One of the most 
important was the great distance, then untraveled by rail- 
ways, and the very poor mail facilities. A letter was often 
sent on its way with little or no hope of its final arrival at 
the destination intended. Then they w^ould spend weeks, 
months, and years in waiting for the letter that never came. 
It was in this way that so many families lost trace of many 
of its loved memliers. We of this day and generation could 
fairly luxuriate in letters from all parts of the world, hut 
we have not the time to lurite them. We keep better in- 
formed of our kindred through the daily newspapers than 
by private correspondence; but is that in any way to our 
credit? 



CHAPTER VI. 

"He who does not advance, falls back; he who stops is over- 
whelmed, distanced, crushed; he who ceases to grow greater becomes 
smaller; he who leaves off gives up; the stationarv condition is the 
beginning of the end— the lethargy which precedes death— mental, 
moral, and spiritual death. To live is to achieve, to conquer, to 
triumph; is to will without ceasing, and to refresh one's will daily 
from the Source of All-Good."' 



JUDGE WILEY P. FOWLER. 

Obituary in a Padiicah paper, December, 1880: 'There 
died in this city last Saturday as good a man as ever lived. 
Judge W. P. Fowler breathed his last at 7 o'clock in the 
evening, at the residence of his son, Captain J. H. Fowler, 
on Court Street. He died in his eighty-second year, of no 
special disease, — it was the general giving away incident to 
old age. He was universally respected, and is deeply re- 
gretted by all who remember the days when he mingled 
socially among us as our oldest citizen, and one whose life 
and character were eminently worthy of veneration from 
all of us. 

"The funeral was largely attended yesterday forenoon at 
the Broadway Methodist church, where an impressive ser- 
mon was preached by the pastor, the Eev. J. M. Scott. At 
1 :30 p. m. the steamer Gus Fowler left the city wharf with 
the remains on board, accompanied by about four hundred 
citizens, for Smithland, where the body was buried with 
Masonic honors in the cemetery, with others of the name 
gone before. The whole town of Smithland turned out to 
do honor to the dead patriarch who had lived among them 
so long, and whose example and iniluence they will never 
forget. 

"Wiley Paul Fowler was born in Smith County, Tennes- 
see, September 2, 1799. His father was Godfrey Fowler, of 
Wake County, Xorth Carolina ; his mother was Clara Wright, 
formerly of the same State. In 180(3 the familv moved to 



1 




i5| t^- 




/ 



y^.f. 




ANNALS OF TEE FOWLER FAMILY. 85 

near Princeton, Caldwell County, Kentiick}', where Wiley at- 
tended such pioneer schools as the times afforded. In 1817, 
when he was only eighteen years old, he passed the virgin 
forests, where Padncah now stands, on his way to Texas in 
company of his brother (John Hopkins Fowler). After re- 
maining in Texas about two years — on Red River, near the 
old town of Clarksville — he returned to Kentucky and located 
at Salem, Livingston County, where he studied law and was 
admitted to the bar in the fall of 1823. He located then in 
what was known as the Jackson district west of the Tennessee 
River, but, owing to the sparse settlement of that section, 
he returned to Salem, where he lived till 1835. April 15, 
1827, he married Miss Esther Araminta Given, daughter of 
Dixon Given, a merchant of Salem. Her brothers, H. F. 
and D. A. Given, were men of great prominence in commer- 
cial circles. Her sisters married Judge James Campbell, Sr., 
and the late Mr. W. H. Jones, of Paducah. Moving from 
Salem to Princeton, his old liome, he rose so rapidly in his 
profession that he soon became one of the leading lawyers 
of Southern Kentucky. In 1839 he was appointed by the 
Governor of the State judge of the circuit court of that dis- 
trict, the Senate confirming the appointment. After the 
adoption of the State Constitution of 1812, which provided 
for the election of the judiciary. Judge Fowler, who was 
opposed to the elective system, declined the nomination. 

'^His wife died July 1, 1817, leaving him five sons, — Dick, 
Joe, White, Gus, and Willie, — one daughter having died 
at the age of five years. Fel)ruary, 1818, he married 
Mrs. Sarah S. Barnett and moved to Smithland, where he 
continued to reside until her death in 1877. He was again 
called to the bench on the establishment of the fourteenth 
judicial district in 1860, serving in that office until 1868, 
when he retired to his beautiful country-seat, ^Mount Elm,^ 
three miles l)elow Smithland, on a grand l)luff overlooking 
the Ohio River and some of its finest scenery. From 1860 
to 1865, when the country was occupied by armed soldiery, 
when passion ruled the land, with bands of robbers and mur- 



86 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

clerers prowling through the State^ and when law was trod- 
den down by lawless men. Judge Fowler held the scales of 
justice with an unfaltering hand, often imperiling his own 
life while upholding the civil power in the teeth of the 
military of both Federals and Confederates. Although a 
Union man, he was arrested and imprisoned in Louisville 
because he refused to take the ironclad oath for the Fed- 
erals. He was banished by them to 'Sherman^s Colony/ in 
Yucatan, but — he did not go. 

"Deeply interested in political questions, Judge Fowler 
was in early life a warm supporter of Henry Clay and the 
Whig party in Kentucky, but on the dissolution of that party 
he cast his fortunes with the Democracy. In 1832 he was 
sent from his district to the General Assembly, where he 
served one term. 

"Judge Fowler was a man of commanding presence and 
courtly manners. He was of fine form — almost six feet 
tall — and straight as an Indian, with dark, penetrating eyes, 
and a face and head indicative of a strong character and a 
superior intellect. His dignity seemed a part of his inner 
nature, showing always the gentleman who understood his 
position both as a citizen and an official of the people; his 
gracious bearing was the same in his daily walk and on the 
bench; it never left him when arrested by Union soldiers — 
although a Union patriot — on his refusal to swear that he 
would give no aid nor comfort to a Confederate soldier, he 
having three sons in the Southern army, two of them promi- 
nent officers. He maintained the same dignified poise of 
character while in prison at Louisville, and he returned to 
his home on his release the same good, pure, noble man. 

"He w^as a man of liberal views and much cultivation. He 
was passionately fond of literary research, delighting to in- 
vestigate new subjects of thought; and, regardless of ortho- 
dox creeds, his active mind rambled with freedom over inter- 
esting fields of science. He had been a member of the Meth- 
odist church from early maiihood and a Mason for the same 
length of time. His style of oratory when pleading at the 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 87 

bar was most engaging; his language was at all times chaste 
and most beautiful, with a poetic vein running throughout, 
which was charming. His eloquence was brightened by 
scintillations of wit and humor, with occasional flashes of 
withering sarcasm, and he moved his listeners to laughter or 
tears at will. He ripened in the sunshine of life, and in the 
fullness of time he dropped from the tree of mortality into a 
glorious eternity. Would there were more like him.^' 

Mayfield Democrat: "Judge W. P. Fowler, of Paducah, 
is dead. He died last Saturday night in that city at the 
residence of his son, Captain Joe H. Fowler. He was one 
of the oldest and most highly respected men of this section 
of the State. When Judge Fowler died one of God's noble- 
men crossed over the river." 

Marion Press: '^The numerous friends and acquaintances 
in this county will be grieved to hear of the death of the 
noble old ex-Circuit Judge Wiley P. Fowler. Perhaps no 
Kentuckian was more familiar with the history of the settle- 
ment and development of Crittenden County, he being con- 
versant with the days of Ford, of ForcFs Ferry. In the 
judge's early career as a lawyer he was employed in suits by 
the noted clansman. With our lamented jurist is buried 
much unwritten State history which will perhaps never be 
known." 

Of the sons of Judge Fowler the Cincinnati Commercial 
says : "White commanded the E. Hovrard, in the Nashville 
and New Orleans trade, Willie was master of the Armada; 
Gus built and run the famous Idlewild; Dick was command- 
ing the Pat Cleburne when she burst her boilers; his noble 
life went . down with his ill-fated steamer. Captain Joe 
Fowler of Paducah is the only surviving son. These men 
honored their profession of boatmen, and their names have 
long been fondly familiar on the lower Ohio." 

From Princeton Banner, December 16, 1880: "When we 
announce to the readers of the Banner that Judge W. P. 
Fowler is dead, we call up among the old people of Princeton 
and of all this section reminiscences of one of the most re- 



88 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

markable men who ever lived in Western Kentucky, — re- 
markable for his strong intellect, his great ability as a 
lawyer, his rich learning, his firmness and impartiality as a 
judge, his many shining virtues as a Christian gentleman, 
and for his unyielding hold on the esteem and affections of 
his fellow-citizens among whom he lived for eighty-two long 
and eventful years. He was called last Saturday in the quiet 
of the evening twilight, and the grand old man was ready to 
go. lie had fought the good fight of life, he had lived up to 
the high standard of God's written law as nearly as man 
ever did in all life's relations. As the deepening shadows 
of night enveloped him and shrouded his room in gloom, he 
bade adieu to earth and friends while surrounded by children, 
grandchildren, and lifelong friends. He died of no partic- 
ular disease; his lamp burned out." 

All of Judge Fowler's children died before him except his 
son Joseph, at whose home he died; his daughter-in-law, Mrs. 
Joe Fowler, was as dear to liim as a daughter, and she was 
so regarded by mutual friends. He was fond and proud of 
his sons, and his generous affections included grandchildren, 
nieces, and nephews, with a large circle of loving young 
friends. His wife was a remarkable woman in many ways; 
she was a proud and cultured Kentuckian, possessing many 
social charms and a great business faculty, with much ex- 
ecutive skill. 

ANECDOTE OF THE LATE JUDGE W. P. FOWLEK. 

From the Paducah Visitor: "Years ago — so many years 
ago that people have forgott-^n when — the late Judge Fowler, 
father of Captain Joe Fowlcx- of this city, held circuit court 
in Livingston County, at Smithland. After a long and 
tedious trial the hour arrived when an adjournment must 
take place, but the jury still had the case and reported that 
it could not reach a verdict. Then Judge Fowler took ad- 
vantage of a clause in the Constitution of Kentucky, by 
bringing these twelve men, good and true, perhaps, but very 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 89 

much disgusted, to the Paducah court, the next in succession. 
This judicial district was hirger then by many miles than it 
is now, for it included several low^er counties of the Tur- 
chase/ When court ended here Judge Powder, finding the 
jury still hung, lugged the disconsolate dozen — first to Bal- 
lard, then to Carlisle. Finally this much traveled jury 
reached a verdict. When court met again at Smithland the 
result was given in due form, the county of Livingston w^as 
spared the expense of a second long trial, and everybody 
w^as satisfied. This unique proceeding, so far as can be 
learned, w^as the only case of the kind in the State of Ken- 
tucky, but it was strictly in the letter of the law.^' 

DESCENDANTS OF WILEY PAUL FOWLER AND ESTHER ARAMIXTA 

(given) fowler, of PRINCETON, CALDW^ELL 

COUNTY, KENTUCKY. 

They were married April 15, 1827; their children were: 

I. MARY W., born January 15, 1828, died April 20, 
1833. 

II. DIXOX GIVEN, born February 8, 1830, Princeton; 
finished his education at the Kentucky Military Institute, 
near Frankfort ; married Laura Berry of Lexington, Ky., 
May 17, 1853 ; issue : 1, Laura Minta, born March 21, 1854; 
educated at the convents of St. Catherine and St. Vincent; 
married to Henry Fayette Given of Paducah, Ky., 
March 17, 1874; their issue: 1, James Goodall, born Jan- 
uary 1, 1875, resides in Lexington, unmarried; 2, Mayme 
Bullitt, born September 13, 1880; 3, Dixon Fowler, born 
August 18, 1884; 4, Frances Field, born May 4, 1895. Laura 
(Berry) Powder died 1855. 

Dixon Given Fowler married Geraldine Porter of Paris, 
Tenn., in 1858. Their issue: I, Wiley Paul. II, Littleton 
Augustus (both died in infancy). Ill, Willie Porter, born 
in Paris, Tenn., in 1865; married to John C. Berryman, 
Lexington, in 1885; their issue: 1, Helen, born 1886; 2, 
Anna Porter, Ijorn 1891. IV, Anna Horton, born in Gov- 



90 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

ington in 1867; married Spencer Beeryman in 1889; is a 
childless widow. V, Clara Given, born in Covington in 1869; 
married to Gustav Herman Waeneken, March 31, 1896; 
they have no children and reside -ifi-Clarksville, Tenn. YI, 
Dixie, a daughter, died in infancy. 

II. JOHX HENEY, born in 1832, in Salem, Livingston 
County; married Martha Elizabeth Leech, Smithland, Ky., 
January 11, 1855. Their children: I, Given, born May 31, 
1858, Smithland; educated in Paducah; he naturally in- 
clined to the steamboat business, w^hich he became identified 
with at an early age; he is unmarried and resides in Padu- 
cah; he is agent for different lines of steamboats running on 
the Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee rivers. (Dixon, first 
born son, was born July 6, 1856, and died August 17, 1856.) 

II, Mildred Glenn, born January 27, 1860; educated in the 
Paducah schools; married to Dr. Frank Davis^ a physician 
of Paducah, former resident of Smithland, on November 13, 
1879; their children: 1, Mattie Stewart, born August 7, 
1880; 2, Frank Fowler, born July 23, 1884. Dr. Davis died 
August 1, 1886; his widow and children reside in Paducah. 

III, Esther Araminta, born September 27, 1862, Paducah; 
educated there; married to Cook Husbands, February 24, 
1884; no children; they reside in Paducah, where he is con- 
nected with the German National Bank. IV, Mattie Leech, 
born August 9, 1866, Paducah, where she was educated; is 
unmarried and resides with her parents in their old home 
on Court Street. V, Josephine Henrietta, born November 
25, 1870; married to Edmund M. Post, New York, Novem- 
ber 26, 1892; he is connected with the w^holesale house of 
H. B. Claflin & Co., and resides in New York; they have one 
child, a son, Fowler, born February 26, 1894. VI, Eosebud, 
born May 11, 1875, Paducah, where she resides with her 
parents. 

III. JAMES WHITE, born September 26, 1833, Prince- 
ton; served through the Civil War and died at its close, in 
Augusta, Ga., March 23, 1865; unmarried. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 91 

IV. LITTLETON AUGUSTUS, born February 25, 
1838, Princeton (see further record) ; married April 30, 
1866, Laura Saunders, Paducah; children: 1, Saunders 
Augustus, born March 8, 1867; is unmarried (see further 
sketch) ; 2, Birdie, born August 29, 1868, Paducah; finished 
school at Sayre Female College, Lexington; married to John 
P. Campbell of Hopkinsville, Ky., October 27, 1891; issue, 
one son, John P., Jr., born July 27, 1892. 

V. WILEY PAUL, JE., born September 16, 1842 ; died 
unmarried February 24, 1872 (see elsewhere). 

'^ JAMES WHITE FOWLER, 

The third son of Judge W. P. Fowler, was born at Princeton, 
Ky., September 26, 1833. When eight years old he moved 
with his parents to Smithland, where he had good school 
advantages. His boyhood gave promise of a splendid man- 
hood ; he was strikingly like his father in voice, manner, and 
physique. He could imitate perfectly his father's manners, 
as a lawyer defending a client, or as a judge delivering a 
charge to a jury, or sentencing a criminal. In school he 
gained the admiration of teachers and classmates for his 
powers of oratory. His perception was quick, his intellect 
bright, and his wit and humor were remarkable. His heart 
was tender as a woman's, yet he was brave to recklessness. 

"When eighteen years of age he accepted a clerkship on a 
wharfboat at Paducah, then owned and managed by his 
uncles, H. F. and D. A. Given. This was a great disappoint- 
ment to his father, who wished to educate this son for a 
profession — probably that of law. After retaining the office 
for a time and familiarizing himself with the river business, 
he took command of the E. Howard, a large sidewheel boat 
running from Nashville to New Orleans, in the palmy days 
'before the war.' Later he retired from steamboating and 
re-entered the wharfboat business — again at Paducah. Soon 
civil war was declared and he allied himself to the Southern 



92 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

cause, serving bravely through the four years^ conflict. At 
the calamitous end, when preparing to return home, broken 
in health and crushed in spirits, he died suddenly in Au- 
gusta, Ga., March 23, 1865, and was buried in that city. He 
died unmarried."^ 

''wiLEY PAUL FOWLER, JR., 

The fifth and youngest son of Judge W. P. Fowler, was born 
at Princeton, Ky., September 16, 1842. His parents moved 
to Smithland wdien he was an infant. He was ever of a 
frail constitution from birth; as a boy he was gentle and 
sweet-spirited, but quick to resent an unmerited insult or 
injury. He attended the private schools of Smithland until 
fifteen years of age, when his father, in conjunction with 
other families, secured a private tutor from the East. Wil- 
lie, as he was familiarly called, studied four years under this 
teacher's able guidance; at the expiration of this time he 
traveled in company of his classmates and tutor, making 
a tour of all the JN'orthern and Eastern cities of note. The 
next year he entered Bardstown College, but his failing 
health forced him to relinquish his studies. Later he was 
able to begin his business career, as his brothers had done 
before him, by taking a clerkship on the wharfboat at Padu- 
cah, which was then under the management of his brother 
J. H. Fowler. He soon obtained an interest in the steamer 
Idlewild, partly owned and commanded by his brother Gus 
Fowler; he held the office of clerk on the Idlewild till his 
health failed entirely. After four months of patient suffer- 
ing he died February 24, 1872, mourned and regretted by 
relatives and friends for his quiet, polite nature and his 
uniformly correct business principles. Like his brother 
White, he died in his twenty-ninth year and unmarried. 
The Idlewild conveyed his remains, with a large company of 

'The foregoing sketch was given by Mrs. J. H. Fowler, of Paducah. 
Does any one living know where the grave of White Fowler is? 



"'^p^^^a 



\ 



H 



f 









I^Ut.->-t 7^^ /^>«£?^ 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 93 

friends, to his old home, Smithlaiid, where he was laid to 
rest in the Fowler lot in the cemetery."^ 

"DlXOi^ GIVEN FOWLER, 

The eldest son of Judge W. P. Fowler, was born at Prince- 
ton, Caldwell County, Kentucky, February 8, 1830. He 
was named for his maternal grandfather, Dixon Given. 
When he had finished his education at the Kentucky Military 
Institute, near Frankfort, he began his business career, in 
1849, as clerk on the wharf boat at Paducah, which was 
owned by his uncles, H. F. and D. A. Given, the well known 
commission men of Watts & Given. He remained in this 
position until 1855, when he went to Cairo, 111., wdiere he 
formed a partnership in the wharfboat business with Ecstein 
Norton, who later became president of the Louisville & Nash- 
ville Eailroad Company. Captain Dick then returned to 
Paducah in the latter part of 1856 and secured the contract 
for carrying the United States semi-weekly mail between 
Paducah and Evansville. After a twelve-month he bought 
the Silver Star and made a tri -weekly mail. In another year 
Gus Fowler, a younger brother, was placed in command of 
the Star, he being then recognized as the youngest captain 
on the western waters. A year later Captain Dick went to 
Pittsburg and purchased the noted sidewheel steamer Dun- 
bar, of which young Captain Gus was placed in command. 
The Dunbar and the Silver Star then made daily trips with 
the mail until the Star was burned at Caseyville. The 
Dunbar continued as a mailboat to the beginning of the 
Civil War. During these years Captain Dick was manager 
of the line. 

"When the South seceded. Captain Dick, with his brothers 
White and Gus, gave his allegiance to his native land; he 

'The foregoing- facts were furnished by Mrs. J. H. Fowler, of 
Paducah, at whose home Willie lingered and died. When I visited 
Judge Fowler and wife, in 1874, "Aunt Sal lie," Willie's stepmother 
— the judge's second wife — talked frequently and affectionately of 
my young man cousin so recently dead. 



94 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

was made captain in the Confederate ordnance department. 
Meanwhile Captain Joe Fowler, another brother, kept his 
interest in the river business, and when Captain Dick re- 
turned at the end of the war, his brother Joe gave him the 
command of the Jim Fisk, then running between Paducah 
and Cairo. Subsequently ho commanded the Idlewild until 
she was transferred by charter. Captain Dick then took 
charge of the elegant sidewhcel steamer Pat Cleburne, 
which took the Idlewild's place in the Paducah trade. On 
May 17, 1876, in making a landing at Bowles' Mills, near 
Shawneetown, the Cleburne exploded lier boilers and the gal- 
lant captain lost his life with others on the ill-fated vessel. 
He was a perfect type of the ideal steamboat captain, with- 
out the rough edges; he was kind and generous to a fault, a 
man whom all delighted to call friend. Captain Dick was a 
passenger on the fine United States mailboat America, when 
she collided in mid-river with the United States, near War- 
saw, Ky. That catastrophe was an appalling one and many 
lives were lost. One of the boats had on board large quanti- 
ties of oil, which took fire as it spread over the waters, burn- 
ing the hapless victims who dashed themselves from the 
fiery wrecks. Captain Dick, at great personal peril, rescued 
two ladies from horrible deaths, to subsecpicntly meet a 
similar fate himself. When the Cleburne was ])lown up he 
was caught in the wreck and burned to death, with no one 
near and able to save. No braver man as a soldier or civilian 
ever lived. God bless the soul of Dixon Fowler."" 

He married Miss Laura Berry, of Lexington, in 1853. She 
died, leaving him one child, Laura, who is Mrs. Henry 
Given of Lexington. In 1858 he married Miss Geraldine 
Porter of Paris, Tenn., who was a sister of ex-Governor 
James D. Porter of that State. She bore him six children, — 
Wiley Paul, Littleton Augustus, Willie Porter, Anna Hor- 
ton, Clara Given, and Dixie. Wiley, Littleton, and Dixie 
all died in infancy. Willie was married to Mr. John C. 
Berryman of Lexington in 1887. She died in 1897, Sep- 
tember 25th, her husband and two children surviving her — 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 95 

two girls, Helen and Anna. Anna Horton Fowler married 
Spencer Berryman, brother to John C, and is now (1898) 
a widow; her husband died in 1895. Clara married Gnstav 
Warneken of Bremen, Germany, but their home is in 
Clarksville, Tenn., although they are at present visiting in 
Germany (1898). 

DIXON GIVEN FOWLER. 

Ben F. Egan, "Buz,'' writes thus to our river column con- 
cerning his old partner. Captain Dick Fowler: "Dick was 
a devoted friend of the South, and, when a captain in the 
ordnance department of the Confederacy, he built the ram 
Tennessee at Lafayette, La. Before this powerful gunboat 
was finished she was destroyed by the Southern soldiery on 
the night previous to the evacuation of New Orleans. After 
the war was all over Dick returned to his old home in Padu- 
cah, married the sister of Governor Porter, of Tennessee, 
and finally drifted back to river business. In 1876 our gal- 
lant Dick was commanding the Pat Cleburne, — so named 
for his old Confederate commander who was killed at Frank- 
lin, Tenn. Poor Dick lost his noble life vv^ith the explosion 
of this boat. Manly, generous, impulsive, and brave, he was 
a model steamboatman of the olden time. He snatched with 
eagerness any joy whenever he found it; free from care re- 
garding the future, he was borne lightly on the wave of time 
till death overtook him at the age of forty-six. He was 
known as every one's friend. Captain Joe H. Fowler is his 
brother, and in saying this, 1 could not pay Joe a sincerer 
compliment.'' 

From the Cincinnati Times-Star: "That the lower Ohio 
steamer Dick Fowler is a hummer there can be no mistake. 
She is attracting the general attention of western steamboat- 
men. She was named for a former commander in the Evans- 
ville and Cairo line; she is a monument to the memory of a 
brave, efficient, and faithful officer. He lost his life a few 
jears ago when the Pat Cleburne exploded her boilers, but his 



9C ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

memory is still green in the hearts of his friends, as is 
shown in the naming of this new and beautiful boat. Anyone 
who ever knew Dick Fowler found in him a true and honor- 
able friend, always ready with a helping hand and prompt 
to answer to the call of duty/^ 

THE DICK FOWLER. 

From a Paducah paper: "The trial trip of the Dick 
Fowler was heralded a few days ago. As early as 8 o'clock 
people had begun gathering on the wharfboat and the river 
bank to anxiously await the first glimpse of the noble craft 
which bears the name of one of Paducah^s most honored citi- 
zens, whose memory is cherished and revered in every house- 
hold. It was 10 o'clock when the factories at Mechanicsburg 
struck up their whistles, then around the point and down 
the Tennessee came the Nancy Hanks, with flags and pen- 
nants flying, making a beautiful and impressive sight. She 
was greeted by the scream of many whistles, the booming 
of cannon, and shouts from thousands of throats. The 
passengers on the Fowler responded with fluttering handker- 
chiefs and waving flags, presenting an animated picture 
seldom equaled. Scarcely had she touched the John S. 
Hopkins, which was moored at the wharfboat, before hun- 
dreds of its crowded company leaped on the decks of the 
Fowler, as if their lives depended on being first on board. 
Many of the leading ladies of the city were among the 
Fowler's visitors. Captain Joe Fowler, Captain Crumbaugh, 
and other citizens of Paducah went to Evansville and made 
the first trip on the Fowler. She is named, as is well known, 
in honor of Dick Fowler, and to keep green his memory; 
his tragic death at his post of duty is most vividly and 
sorrowfully remembered. It is also a deserved compliment 
to the surviving members of the Fowler family, who, with 
those that have gone, have done more to develop and advance 
the river interests of Paducnh and contiguous towns than 
anv other steamboat combination. There are now three boats 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 97 

bearing the names of three brothers, — the 'Gus/ the 'Joe/ 
and the 'Dick Fowler/ 

"The Dick Fowler is a most beautiful structure of marine 
architecture and most elegantly furnished throughout. Her 
staterooms are models of comfort and elegance, the ladies^ 
cabin is handsomely furnished in hardwood of antique 
design, upholstered in embossed leather; the carpets and 
draperies are rich and costly, and her pantry and dining- 
room facilities are unexcelled. Altogether she is a beautiful 
and splendidly equipped steamer and a source of just pride 
to her owners and Paducah." 

"While the Dick Fowler was lying at Smithland yesterday, 
the passengers and crew visited the Fowler lot in the historic 
old graveyard on the hill, and decorated with flowers the 
grave of Captain Dick Fowler. This tribute to the memory 
of the popular captain, whose beautiful marine namesake has, 
achieved such a proud record, was both touching and ap~ 
propriate.^^ 

MRS. LAURA MINTA ( FOWLER ) GIVEN, W^IFE OF HENRY FAYETT 
GIVEN, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY. 

She is the eldest daughter of the late Dixon Given Fowler, 
and the only child of Laura (Berry) Fowler, his first 
wife. 

Laura Minta (Fowler) Given was born near Lexington, 
Ky., on March 21, 185tt; her mother died when she was an 
infant. She was educated at the convent of St. Catherine, 
Lexington, and of St. Vincent, Union County, Kentucky. 
She was married in Paducah, Ky., to H. F. Given, March 
17, 1874. 

H. F. Given is a son of Augustus Dixon Given and Clarissa 
Harlow (Goodall) Given, his wife, of Princeton, Ky. His 
father was a banker of Paducah for many years, and amassed 
great wealth, which he lost nearly entirely during the Civil 
War. He. afterward engaged in the brokerage business in 
New Orleans, where he died at the age of sixty-seven. Henry 

7 — Fowler. 



98 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

F.J his soil, was born in Paducah, JanuaiT 16, 185U; was 
educated in Bremen, Gerinany; and he returned home after 
his father's financial failure and engaged in railroading, 
which business he followed man}- years. 

CHILDREX OF II. F. GIVEX AXD IIIS WIFE, LAURA M. (fOW^LEr). 

I. JAMES GOODALL GIVEX was born January 1, 
1875; was educated at the Lexington schools; he was de- 
feated in a complete education, which was to have been 
followed by a profession, on account of his weak eyes; he 
is a dealer in coal in Lexington. 

II. MAYME BULLITT, born in Xelson County, Ken- 
tucky, September 13, 1880; was educated in the schools of 
Lexington. She has histrionic talent, and contemplates 
making the teaching of reading and physical culture her 
profession. 

III. DIXOX FOWLEK, born in Lexington, August 18, 
1884; he is gifted with a fine tenor voice, with musical 
ability; he has a pronounced fondness for electrical studies; 
IS now preparing for college with a private teacher. 

IV. FRAXCES FIELD, born in Lexington, May 4, 1895, 
consequently is in the kindergarten period of an educa- 
tion. 

The foregoing informati(Ui was given by Mrs. Laura 
(Fowler) Given herself, who most graciously expressed her 
interest in, and appreciation of my efforts in endeavoring 
to preserve something in the way of a record of our worthy 
forbears. Please pardon the quotation of a paragraph re- 
garding my dead brother, Henry B. Fowler: "One of the 
pleasantest remembrances of my girlhood is meeting a Texas 
cousin, Henry Fowler, at the home of my grandfather (Judge 
W. P. Fowler of Smithland). I learned to love him quite 
'dearly, and if he is still living please tell him I often think 
i.of him and should like verv much to hear from him.'' 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 99 

A TOUCHING INCIDENT. 

"Frankfort, Ivy., June 18, . The citizens of Frank- 
fort are so accustomed to the striped uniform that the 
daily sight of it awakens little or no sympathy for the con- 
victs in the penitentiary, but there are a number of ladies 
and gentlemen in the State who are working to better the 
condition of the convicts and lead them to better lives. On 
stated occasions visits are made by these good people, who 
take flowers, food, periodicals, and books to the unfortunate 
inmates of the prison. On last Flower Mission Day Miss 
Clara Fowler, of Lexington, who is on a visit to friends here, 
was among the prison visitors. While in the hospital her 
attention was attracted by an old man named Taylor who 
was sent from Lexington for malicious shooting. His pale 
face and distressing cough at once elicited her sympathy, and 
after satisfying herself that Taylor was a worthy object of 
her concern, she went to Governor Brown to plead for the 
old man's pardon, and so effective was the interview that 
she was able to send to the penitentiary on last Saturday 
a full pardon ; but it came too late. The dying old man had 
been taken suddenly worse and was able to understand only 
that he was a free man once more. Breathing a prayer for 
the young huly who had so kindly interceded in his behalf, 
his spirit — yet not his body — passed out and beyond the grim 
prison walls. The pardon came at two o'clock; Taylor died 
at five."" 

THE FOWLER-WARNEKEN WEDDING. 

From a Paducah paper, March 31, 1896: "By far the 
j)rettiest event that has taken place in Paducah this winter 
was the marriage of Miss Clara Given Fowler to Mr. Gustavo 
H. AYarneken at 9 o'clock last evening at the home of the 
bride's uncle. Captain J. H. Fowler, 619 Court Street. It 
was a simple home wedding, but its very simplicity made it 
beautiful. At the appointed hour Messrs. Malcolm Smith of 
Clarksville, Tenn., and Saunders A. Fowler of Paducah, a 



100 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

cousin of the bride, entered the third parlor and formed an 
aisle to the front drawing-room with a double row of white 
ribbons. The first to come down this silken avenue was the 
Rev. Mr. W. E. Cave, pastor of the First Presbyterian 
church. He was followed by the four bridesmaids, Misses 
Reubie Fowler Cobb, Cherrie Morton, Emma Reed, and 
Adine Morton. Then came the groom accompanied by his 
best man, Mr. William Borneman. Miss Fowder and her 
maid of honor, a cousin. Miss Mattie Fowler, entered last. 
The bride wore a gown of white organdie, over which fell a 
long bridal veil. Her ornaments were diamonds and she 
carried a bouquet of lilies of the valley. Her reputation as 
a Kentucky belle has gone far beyond her native State, but 
never before had she shown so much womanly beauty as on 
the eve of her wedding, when her loveliness surpassed all 
description. 

"A pretty event of the occasion was the forming of a 
circle by the bridal party and relatives present, when the 
loving-cup was passed round and a toast drunk to the newly- 
wedded pair. Mr. and ^Irs. Warneken left immediately on 
a wedding tour to Chicago, Xew York, and other Eastern 
cities. After a few weeks they will be at home in Clarksville, 
Tenn., their future residence. Next fall they will go on a 
visit to his fatherland, where he is a member of an old and 
honorable house of Bremen. His wife also comes of blue 
blood, she being a daughter of one of the most aristocratic 
families of our proud State. The happy couple received 
hundreds of presents and many telegrams; among the latter 
were about a dozen cablegrams from Mr. Warneken's rela- 
tives in the old world. The guests from a distance were 
Mesdames Spencer Berryman and John Berryman of Lex- 
ington, sisters of the bride, and others.*' 

A XOBLE LIFE ENDED. 

From a Lexington paper, September 25, 1897 : ^^Mrs. 
John C. Berryman, Jr., died at 1 :30 o'clock this morning, 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 101 

at the residence of lier father-in-law, Mr. J. C. Berryman. 
She died of heart disease after a sudden illness of twenty- 
four hours. Mrs. Berryman was Miss Willie Fowler, 
daughter of Captain Dick Fowler of Paducah; her mother 
V:'as Miss Geraldine Porter, sister of Governor Porter of 
7'ennessee. She was the sister of Mrs. Spencer Berryman 
and Mrs. Henry Given, both of this city, and also of Mrs. 
Warneken, formerly Miss Clara Fowler, of Clarksville. She 
was a prominent kindergarten and Sunday-school worker, and 
was a member of the faculty of Hamilton College, at the 
litad of the primary school. She was also the teacher of the 
infant class of Christ church Sunday-school. The death of 
this lovely young matron, who leaves a husband and two 
little daughters, Helen and Anna Porter, has caused the 
deepest grief to a large circle of devoted relatives and friends 
and the many children who knew and loved her as their 
gentle teacher and dear friend. The funeral services will be 
held at the residence of Mr. Berryman, corner of Market and 
Second streets, Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock, conducted by 
Dean John N. Lewis, of Christ Church Cathedral." 

A LETTER FROM MRS. CLARA GIVEN ( FOWLER ) WMRNEKEN, OF 
CLARKSVILLE^ TENJfESSEE. 

"Lake Mohonk, Catskill Mountains, New York, October 7, 
1899. — My Dear Cousin Dora : Your letter written Septem- 
ber 26th was received just yesterday, as we have been travel- 
ing several weeks, and this is our first tarrying place where 
our mail could catch up with us. * * * j think it is 
perfectly lovely in you to do this work, for it must be very 
laborious. The entire family should show their apprecia- 
tion. * * * J ]x2iVQ read some of your letters to Mattie 
Fowler, consequently fell quite in love with you. When you 
go to Kentucky you must divide your visit with us; I do 
not live far from Paducah. Uncle Joe's family is like my 
own; I have been with them so much of my life I feel like 
one of them. 



102 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

^'There is so very little about me worth putting in a 
family record. I suppose you know that my dear father was 
married twice, — first to Miss Laura Berry of Lexington, 
Ivy.; she lived only a year and dying left a little daughter 
named for her. She is now Mrs. Henry Given, of Lexing- 
ton. She has four children, — a grown son James and 
daughter Mayme B. ; a son fifteen years of age named Dixon 
Fowler, for papa, and a little girl of four called Frances. If 
you care to know more of them, write her (if you have not 
already done so), in care of Mrs. A^irginia Bullitt. 

^^My father married again — Miss Geraldine Porter, of 
Paris, Tenn. ; she was a sister of James D. Porter, ex- 
Governor of that State. She died when I was so young. The 
two sons who died in tender years were Wiley and Gus. 
Willie Porter Fowler was born in Paris, Tenn., in 18G5, and 
after mother died she lived with Uncle Gus Fowler until 
his death; then she lived with Mrs. Given in Lexington 
until her own marriage in 1885 to John C. Berryman of 
that city. She died September 25, 1897, of heart trouble. 
There never lived a nobler, sweeter character, — a devoted 
wife and mother, and an ideal sister. She died while I was 
in Europe, so I had not the privilege of being with her in 
her last days. Her death has left a void in mine and sister 
Anna's life that no one can ever fill. Her daughter Helen 
was born in 1886 and Anna Porter in 1891 ; they live with 
their father and grandparents in Lexington and often spend 
their summers with us in Clarksville; they are lovely 
children. 

"My mother's second daughter, Anna Horton Fowler, was 
born in Covington, Ky., in 1867; after our mother died we 
two boarded with a cousin, Mrs. Marion McClelland, whom 
we loved dearly. Then our dear father was taken from us, 
but we continued to live \^ith our cousin until 1885, when 
she, too, was taken; then it seemed that we two were doomed 
to be left alone. 

"Anna and I then staid six months in Uncle Joe Fowler's 
family, then went to live with our half-sister, Mrs, Given. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 103 

In 1889 Anna was married to Spencer C. Berrynian of 
Lexington, a brother of Willie's hnsbancL He died in 1895. 
Anna is a charming, beautiful woman; she makes her home 
with me. 

'•I w^as born in Covington, Ky., in 1869. After I was 
grown I spent most of my time visiting friends in Southern 
cities; these friends were lovely to me and made me feel 
that their homes were mine. The autumn of 1895 I spent 
with Uncle Joe (Fowler), and remained there to be married 
on March 31, 1896, to Gustav Herman Warneken, of Bremen, 
Germany. He was born in 1861: and received his education 
in Bremen, and completed it in the French part of Switzer- 
land; he then served one yeiir as a volunteer in the cavalry 
of the German army, which he left wdiile holding the office 
of lieutenant. He came over to the United States in the 
spring of 1888, to study the lobacco trade, as his forefathers 
had been identified with the foreign trade for which Bremen 
has been distinguished for several centuries. He met me 
in the summer of 1893, when I was visiting Uncle Joe's 
family; he at once decided to make his home on this side 
of the ocean, and became an American citizen that year. 
In 1895 he removed to Clarksville, Tenn., wdiere he found 
it advantageous to his business interests. He is still a tobacco 
buyer for foreign trade, and he is not only a fine business 
man but the most cultured and best traveled young man I 
know. He speaks five or six languages, but he is very 
modest in view of his many accomplishments; of course I 
think he is the smartest and dearest person in the world. 
He and I spent winter before last in Europe with his family, 
who are perfectly charming people and have such a magnifi- 
cent home there. 

"We, I am sorry to say, have no children. We keep house 
in Clarksville, and, while we entertain and love society, a 
great deal of my time is devoted to charity. I am leader of 
the 'Silver Cross Circle of the King's Daughters.' I forgot 
to tell you in the proper place that Dixie Fowler, the fourth 
daughter, was born in 1872, I think, in Evansville, Ind., but 



104 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



she died in infancy. Our sweet sister Willie is sleeping in 
the beautiful Lexington cemetery; mother, in Paris, Tenn., 
and papa, in Smithland, in his father's family lot. Xow, if I 
have failed in telling you the information you desire, please 
let me know, and I shall try to do better next time ; history 
writing is quite foreign to me and something I feel fully 
deficient in. Gustav joins me in love to you and yours. 
Your sincere cousin, Clara Fowler Warxeken.'' 

It may be of interest to some to know that her stationery 
bears the Warneken crest. 

JOSEPH IIEXRY FOWLER, 

The second son of Judge W. P. Fowler, was born in Salem, 
Livingston County, Kentucky, in 1833. In early youth he 
had the careful instruction of a noted educator. Prof. James 
Weller; in 1848 he entered Cumberland College at Prince- 
ton, Ky. The Waterways Journal, St. Louis, February 5, 
1898, contains the following biographical sketch of "Cap'n 
Joe," as he is fondly and familiarly called: "Captain Joe 
Fowler, the superintendent of the Evansville, Paducah & 
Cairo Packet Company, is one of the landmarks of Paducah. 
He came to that city, then a small hamlet, in 18-19, and at 
the age of sixteen he took the position of clerk on the first 
wharfboat Paducah ever had. He soon returned to Smith- 
land to fill a similar place on the wharfboat there of his 
uncle, H. F. Given, and company. In 1859 he returned to 
Paducah and was made a member of the firm of Watts, Given 
& Co., as manager of the wharfboat. During the Civil War 
his commercial interests were all confiscated by the Union 
government because he was suspected of strong Southern 
sympathies on account of having three brothers in the 
Southern army. But with pluck and energy he soon got 
another wharfboat and boat store and resumed business. At 
the end of that awful war two of his three brothers. Captain 
Dick and Major Gus, — poor White gave his life for his 
country, — came back to begin life anew, and in Joe they 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 105 

found a true brother, indeed, who enabled them to resume 
the river business. Captain Fowler has been identified with 
river interests and steamboating for more than forty years, 
and has owned an interest in about thirty steamers, com- 
manding several of them at intervals. He is well preserved 
for a man past sixty years and bids fair to successfully pass 
many more milestones on life's highway. He has at all times 
been a public spirited citizen, encouraging every worthy 
home enterprise. At present he is the senior member of the 
firm of Fowler, Crumbaugh & Co., a very extensive boat- 
supply business, at the corner of First Street and Broadway, 
Paducah." 

Another sketch in lighter vein, dated January, 1892, says: 
"The beautiful Paducah and Evansville steamer, Joe Fowler, 
is named for our ^Cap'n Joe,' whose witticisms are current 
from Pittsburg to New Orleans, and whom everybody knows 
and admires, from the millionaire magnate to the humblest 
deck-hand. As he is an old-timer, he tells many interesting 
steamboating and war-time reminiscences, some of which 
are ofttimes ludicrous yet harrowing in detail. The old 
town of Salem, which Mr. Fowler is proud to call his birth- 
place, is also the native home of Roger Q. Mills, of Texas 
fame; the Hon. Henry Watterson was his classmate at Cum- 
berland College. Captain Fowler has served ten years as a 
member of our city council, and to his untiring efforts when' 
one of our school board is due our present efficient system 
of public schools. He is now the superintendent of two 
packet lines, the Evansville and Paducah, with the John S. 
Hopkins and Joe Fowler making trips on alternate days, and 
the Paducah & Cairo Packet Company, the Gus Fowler mak- 
ing daily trips. He is a large stockholder in our new hotel 
and is interested in city real estate to a considerable extent. 
He is religiously inclined to the Methodist Episcopal church, 
that being the preference of his family. In the midst of a 
busy life Mr. Fowler has created an ideal home; his domestic 
happiness has never known m shadow. In 1855 he married 
Miss Mattie Leech of Smithland, a family of six children 



106 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

blessing the union : Given, the only son ; Mildred, the 
widow of the late Dr. Frank T. Davis, formerly of Smith- 
land; Araminta, the wife of Mr. Cook Husbands; Josephine 
(now Mrs. E. M. Post of New York City) ; and Misses Mattie 
and Eosebnd, who live to bless and make l)right the old 
home on Court Street, Paducah, for their fond parents.'' 

Mrs. Davis has two children, Mattie and Frank; and Mrs. 
Post has one, a son, Fowler. Given, the only son of the 
family, is unmarried. 

WHEN GENERAL GRANT CAME. 

"On September 6, 18G1, General Grant and his forces came 
up from Cairo and captured Paducah. That was a memor- 
able day to many citizens, who tell a number of laughable 
incidents that were then only too serious. Captain Joe 
Fowler witnessed the coming of the conqueror and heard him 
read his proclamation guaranteeing protection to all the 
loyal citizens. The old Iniilding made historic by the gen- 
eral's transactions was afterwards used for a hotel, and later 
burned — 1875. Mr. Fowler operated a boatstore in the base- 
ment of the building, and during the war the first story w^as 
occupied by the then noted banking-house of Watts, Given & 
Co., and the third floor was a telegraph office, which Grant 
took charge of immediately on his arrival by gunboat. 

"Captain Fowler then lived in an historic old house which 
was pierced by nine shells from passing gunboats. Then 
a broad lawn intervened between the residence and the river, 
but now the sad wreck of a once elegant home is almost 
ready to topple into the land-hungry stream. Mrs. Millie 
Davis and Mrs. Cook Husbands, daughters of Captain 
Fowler, were born in this interesting old house.'' 

THE STEAMER JOE FO^VLER. 

The Louisville Courier-Journal says: "The new and 
handsome steamer being built by Ed. Howard at Jefferson- 



ANNALS OF TEE FOWLER FAMILY. 107 

ville for the Evaiisvilie and Paducah trade is being rapidly 
pushed forward. The coming fine fast boat will wear the 
loved name of McCracken's distinguished son and marine 
representative, and from the pilot-house of no man's boat 
ever flashed the honored name of a better man than Joe H. 
Fowler. He is the only surviving member of the family of 
Judge W. P. Fowler. Dick^ White, Gus, and Willie have 
all laid down their heads until judgment day, when they will 
come from their graves with no stain upon their manly 
records or honest souls. Long ago I stepped down and out 
from steamboating, never expecting to travel on a magnificent 
sidewheeler again, but I shall take a round trip on this fine 
new boat for her name's sake.'^ 

'^Louisville endeavored to propel a steamboat on wheels 
through her streets during the industrial parade, but she 
failed. Paducah accomplished the feat last Tuesday with 
very little trouble. 'Commodore' Given Fowler had a minia- 
ture Joe Fowler on wheels, with smoke issuing from the 
chimneys and the wheel making a hundred revolutions a 
minute.'' 

Will S. Hays, Kentucky's popular song-writer, in a dedi- 
catory poem to the Joe Fowler, concludes with the follow- 
ing : 

"May the boat be like her namesake, 
Have a long and bright career." 

with the closing couplet, — 

"We'll sigh to miss the steamboat, 
And weep to miss the man." 

CAPTAIN joe's wedding. 

From a Paducah paper: "Just forty years ago to-day, on 
January 11, 1855, Joseph H. Fowler, a young wharf boat 
clerk who had just attained his majority, and Miss Mattie 
E. Leech, a young girl-belle of Smithland, were married at 



108 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

the capital of old Livingston. Among the witnesses to their 
marriage were the groom^s father — the late Judge W. P. 
Fowler — his stej^mother, his four brothers, the bride's par- 
ents, her six brothers, and a host of other relatives and 
friends. Of all that number only three are now alive — the 
couple which was united that winter evening and one brother 
of the bride. Colonel W. T. Leech, of Cape Girardeau, Mo. 
The young wharf boat clerk is now Captain J. H. Fowler of 
Paducah, superintendent of two steamboat lines and pro- 
prietor of several wharfboats of his own. Not a single mem- 
ber of his father's family Ijesides himself has survived the 
two score years since his wedding; he has not a brother, sis- 
ter, uncle, aunt, or parent. He is the oldest living repre- 
sentative of the Fowler family in this State. The Fowler 
name is one of the most honored and most prominent in the 
history of Western Kentucky and of the establishment of 
navigation on western waterways. His wife, a handsome 
matron, is still in the prime of life, like the stout mariner 
himself; but only a few friends, who were among the invited 
guests at their wedding, are still above the sod, and they are 
swiftly passing away.'' 

THE POWLEK-POST WEDDING. 

Extracts from a Paducah })aper: "A wedding which will 
ever be cited as a leading social event took place at the Broad- 
way Methodist Episcopal church last evening. The prin- 
cipals were Miss Josephine Fowler, fourth daughter of Cap- 
tain J. H. Fowler, and Mr. Edmund M. Post,^ of Kew York 
city. The prominence of the bride in Paducah society, as 
well as the beauty and brilliancy of the occasion, made the 
wedding a notable one in social annals. Invitations had been, 
issued to six hundred guests. The church had been most 
beautifullv decorated bv exnert florists. Mr. Carroll Brun- 



^Mr. Post died in New York in the fall of 1900, leaving one child, 
Fowler Post. Mr. Post is lamented by all who knew him, and I 
am sorry I have no further particulars of his death. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 109 

.son presided at the organ and welcomed the members of the 
bride's family and the near relatives and friends, as they 
were ushered to reserved seats, by playing the Swedish Wed- 
ding March. Mendelssohn's March was given as the bridal 
train made its way to the altar. Lange's Flower Song was 
softly sung during the ceremony, which was followed by 
Tannhauser's March as the bridal party left the altar. The 
ushers were Messrs. G. H. Warneken, C. W. Spillman, Clar- 
ence Dallam, Wheeler Campbell, Muscoe Burnett, and Powell 
Nash. The groomsmen were Messrs. Given Fowler, brother 
of the bride; W. C. Leech, T. C. Leech, Jr., and Saunders A. 
Fowler, all three cousins of the bride, with John Love of New 
York, Chas. F. Eieke, William Rieke, and Horace Vaughn. 
The bridesmaids were Misses Mamie Post, sister of the 
groom; Clara Fowler, cousin of the bride; Dow Husbands, 
Adine Morton, Carrie Eieke, Annie Hart, Eubie Cobb, and 
Cherrie Morton, all of whom were dressed in yellow silk with 
diamond ornaments, each maid carrying a bouquet of yellow 
chrysanthemums. The groom was accompanied by his best 
man, Mr. E. B. Phillips; the bride leaned on the arm of her 
sister and maid of honor. Miss Mattie Fowler. The marriage 
ceremony by the Eev. Mr. G. W. Wilson, pastor of the church, 
was the pretty Episcopal service which calls for the ring. 

"The bride, who was ever an attractive brunette of lovely 
face and form, with charming manners, was attired in an 
elegant white satin gown en train, with duchess lace garni- 
ture, and a lace veil. Her only jewel was a diamond pendant, 
the gift of the groom; her bouquet was bride-roses. Miss 
Mattie Fowler, as maid of honor, wore a white silk with 
gauze overdress trimmed in pearl passementerie, diamond 
ornaments, and her flowers were white chrysanthemums. 
After the ceremony the bridal party, with relatives and in- 
timate friends, repaired to the home of the bride's father, on 
Court Street, near Sixth, where refreshments, mirth, music, 
and loving congratulations joined together to speed the 
happy moments away. At 11:30 Mr. and Mrs. Post left for 
New York, their future home, carrying with them the fond- 



110 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

est hopes of many friends. Some of the guests from a dis- 
tance were Mr. W. Leech and daughter, uncle and cousin of 
the bride, of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Miss Post, of New York 
City; Mrs. Mary B. Campbell, Mr. J. P. Campbell and his 
wife, of Hopkinsville ; and Miss Clara Fowler, of Big Stone 
Oap, Va." 

LITTLETOX AUGUSTUS FOWLER^ 

The fourth son of Judge W. P. Fowler, was born in Prince- 
ton, Ky., February 26, 1838. He attended school there until 
his father moved to Salem, thence to Smithland, where Gus 
lived till fifteen years old. His ambition and independent 
views induced him to launch out in a business 'career for 
himself, and he found employment in the commission house 
of Fowler, Norton & Co., Cairo, 111., his eldest brother, D. G. 
Fowler, being the senior member of the firm. He remained 
with this firm two years ^^ hen he decided to finish his educa- 
tion; he attended the Kentucky Military Institute two years, 
graduating in 1857. He went at once to Paducah and en- 
gaged actively in steamboating, commanding boats before 
reaching his majority. 

When the Civil War began he was in command of the fast 
and beautiful steamer Dunbar, running in the Evansville and 
Cairo trade. As his S3'mpathies were decidedly with the 
South, he made several trips carrying contraband goods on 
board; finally he was forced to run the Dunbar up the Ten- 
nessee River, when he scuttled her near Florence, Ala., to 
prevent her falling a prize into the hands of the Federals. 
He then joined the Confederate army under General John 
Morgan, and was with that intrepid leader in all his raids 
until 1862, when young Fowler was captured at Lebanon, 
Tenn., and sent to prison at Camp Chase, Ohio, where he 
was confined with other Southern patriots for six months. 
Upon his release he was exchanged, when he immediately 
accepted the position of major on the staff of General Loring, 
where he remained to the termination of hostilities, always 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. Ill 

taking active part in all the battles Loring's command parti- 
cipated in. After the surrender General Loring went to 
Egypt to take command of the khedive's army, when he 
offered Major Fowler a place of prominence if he wonld 
accompany him to that distant field; but the young man 
felt constrained to decline the flattering inducement, deem- 
ing it his duty to return home and endeavor to retrieve 
family fortunes lost by war. 

He at once associated himself with a commission house 
in Apalachicola, Florida,- spending a year there in the cotton- 
buying business. He returned to Paducah in 1866, resuming 
the steamboat business. While commanding the Armada, a 
boat of limited tonnage, he foresaw the needs of the times 
,and at once advocated and carried into effect the building 
of the Idlewild, which he brought out in 1870 and made 
famous. From the beginning she proved a successful ven- 
ture, he commanding her in person. By fair and courteous 
dealing he soon won his way back into the heart of the 
public, a truth still attested by the pleasing memory of the 
many who traveled on his boat and the presents and testi- 
monials of friendship tendered him. In 1873 he retired from 
.active life on the river to better manage his affairs ashore, 
in most of which he was wonderfully successful. On August 
10, 1878, in the prime of life — at the age of forty years — he 
-died, and seldom — if ever — was more profound sorrow mani- 
-fested in Paducah. 

April 30, 1866, he married Miss Laura Saunders- of 
Paducah; she and their two children still survive him. 
Saunders Augustus, the son, is unmarried; Birdie, the 
daughter, is Mrs. John P. Campbell, and she has one son 
five years of age, John P. Campbell, Jr. They reside at the 
elegant Fowler home on BrocHlway, Paducah. 

"The name of Fowler has long been a household word 
.among the dwellers of the lower Ohio, ever since the days 
before the war, when 'steam boating was steamboating,' as 

■'Daughter of ])r. Reuben Saunders, a celebrated physician of the 
.'State of Kentucky. 



112 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

they sa}^ Of the five brothers engaged in the steamboat 
business only one — Captain Joe — is left. Long after the 
sound of the old Idlewild's whistle — which is now blown by 
the Dick Fowler — shall fail to awaken memories of bygone 
days, along with the river echoes, or when the name of 
Fowler no longer stirs up recollections of the Silver Star, 
the Dunbar,^ the Armada, the Alvan Adams, the Charmer, 
the Jim Fisk, the Pat Cleburne, or the Idlewild, some one 
will remember these Fowler brothers and their good in- 
fluence, for the examples they set to the ones coming after 
them ivill live 'unmixed witli baser matter/ ^' 

The paragraph above, together with the sketch of L. A. 
Fowler, are contributed by Saunders Fowler, the only son 
of Captain Gus Fowler. Some additional facts are given by 
Mrs. J. H. Fowler in the general information written by 
her. 

SAUNDERS AUGUSTUS FOWLER, 

Only son of Captain Littleton Augustus Fowler, was born in 
Paducah, Ky., March 8, 18(57; was educated at the public 
schools of that city, graduating from the high school when 
sixteen years of age, and finishing his education in Central 
University. At the age of twenty he entered the office of 
the Fowler Wharfboat Company, and later the firm of 
Fowler, Crumbaugh & Co., taking the interest left by his 
deceased father. At present he is president of the Fowler 
Wharfboat Company, general freight agent and director of 
the Tennessee and Ohio Eiver Transportation Company, a 
member of the firm of Fowler, Crumbaugh & Co., president 
and commodore of the Paducah Yacht Club. He is un- 
married, and lives with his mother at their home on Broad- 
wav, Paducah. 



^Judge Fowler quoted to me on several occasions some war verses 
he had composed on "the gallant young captain of the packet 
Dunbar." 



CHAPTER VII. 



'His strength was as the strength of ten, 
Because his heart was pure." 

—[Tennyson. 



THE REV. LITTLETON FOWLER. 

[From Southern Quarterly Review, 1861, Thos. 0. Summers, Editor.] 

[The name of the Rev. Littleton Fowler was inserted in the 
programme of the "Biographical Sketches of Eminent Itinerant 
Ministers, distinguished, for the most part, as Pioneers of Methodism 
within the bounds of the M. E. Church South,'" but the sketch of 
that excellent man did not reach us in time for insertion in that 
volume. As it is uncertain when a second volume of Sketches will 
be issued, we have obtained permission of the author, Mr. F. B. 
Sexton, of San Augustine, Texas, to print in the Quarterly the 
following interesting sketch of Mr. Fowler, which will be read with 
mournful pleasure by his numerous surviving friends. Having been 
for several years associated with him in the Texas Conference, our 
acquaintance beginning at the organization of that body in 1840, 
it affords us a great personal gratification to insert this interesting 
monograph in the Quarterly, though it is not properly a Review 
article. — Ed.] 

My first recollections of the Kev. Littleton Fowler are 
those of early boyhood. He was my father^s intimate and 
valued friend. In the earlier years of Texas, when Christian 
ministers were ^'few^^ and their homes "far between/^ he was 
always welcome at my fathers house. I distinctly remember, 
when he was one of our family group, that I was often 
impressed with his great capacity for interesting and enter- 
taining the social circle. He was easy and versatile in con- 
versation, generally instructive, always received without com- 
pelling attention, was occasionally humorous, but never, when 
I heard him, trifling or insipid. 

Mr. Fowler came to Texas as a missionary in the latter 
part of the year 1837. The Republic was then comparatively 
a wilderness. Some of his appointments were separated by 
a distance of several days' journey, which had to be traveled 
alone, and without reference to weather or accommodations. 

8 — Fowler. 



114 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



He had often to sleej) upon the ground, with no companion 
but his horse, and no covering but the canopy of heaven. 
]^ot unfrequently was it necessary for him to leave the 
ordinary roads, or trails (as many of the routes of travel 
were then denominated), and secrete himself behind some 
friendly covert to elude the glance of the treacherous Indian. 
Even' the fire by which he could prepare his evening meal or 
warm his benumbed limbs, had to be extinguished or 
smothered, lest it should liglit the way of the savage to his 
murder. Moreover, the character of Texan society then was 
certainly not encouraging to the objects of his mission; for 
although there were many g'ood men and patriots here — men 
who desired the progress of republican liberty and Christian- 
ity to be hand in hand — many, even, who doubted whether 
one could be vigorous and healthy without the other — yet it 
is not to be denied that there were many others who belonged 
to a vicious and abandoned stock, who had come here in the 
hope of breaking over the restraints of moral influence, and 
with the view of indulging unbridled propensities for crime; 
and to such the messenger of the gospel was not acceptable. 
Surroundings of this kind presented many opportunities for 
the exhibition and exercise of the controlling features of his 
character, which, if I were called ujion to designate, I should 
say were unfeigned devotion to God and indomitable energy 
in the execution of his own purpose. In the midst of these 
obstacles and privations he never faltered — not even hesi- 
tated. His appointments were regularly met, whether few 
or many came to hear him. He was as ready to dispense the 
word of life to ^'two or three gathered together'^ in the 
wilderness of Texas as he had been to hundreds in the 
spacious temples of Tennessee or Alabama. He could pray 
as earnestly, and with as much solicitude, for the solitary 
sinner whom he met on the wayside, as for the senators and 
Tepresentatives assembled in the Congress of the infant 
Eepublic. 

In stature, Mr. Fowler was above the ordinary height; 
according to my recollection, about six feet two inches. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 115 

Apparently inclined to leanness, his frame was large and 
firmly knit. Before liis health became impaired, he had 
much more than ordinary strength. I have often seen it 
exercised, and I have seen but few men who could lift as 
much or wield an ax as powerfully as he. A native of 
Kentucky, he inherited a full share of the physical power 
and chivalry of soul for which the sons of that gallant State 
are justly distinguished. His appearance, too, was striking, 
and could not fail to attract observation. He was straight 
as an Indian's arrow; his forehead was high, expansive, and 
commanding; his eye dark, brilliant, and deeply set; the 
features of his face, though well defined, were regular, and 
indicated that firmness of purpose which I have already said 
was one of the controlling traits of his character. I re- 
member that in my boyish enthusiasm I often declared "he 
was one of the finest-looking men I had ever seen.^' Nor, 
even now, at this distance of time, when sobered to modera- 
tion by experience, and after having seen many of "the 
proud sons of men," am I much disposed to modify the 
expression. 

In the general intercourse of society, his manner was 
natural without being awkward, polite without affectation, 
affable without offensive familiarity. He was totally free 
from that austerity and frigidity which ministers sometimes, 
influenced by the most mistaken and pernicious notions of 
propriety, seem to think it necessary to assume. It is a great 
mistake in ministers to suppose that by treating men of the 
world — hardened sinners even — with a cold and supercilious 
air, they can ever win them to the "paths of peace." Does 
not human reason teach that, if you would gain adherents to 
your cause, you must meet men on the same level, and point 
out to them in friendship and kindness its attractions and 
benefits? You will not be likely to make your doctrines — 
whatever inherent good they may contain — acceptable to your 
hearers if by your actions you say, "Come not near me — I am 
holier than thou." Our Savior, whose gospel you preach, 
teaching by example, ate with publicans and sinners. Mr. 



IIG ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



Fowler imitated his Master in this respect. None that he 
met, whether the chihl of opulence or the victim of poverty, 
the gifted genius or the illiterate backwoodsman, the un- 
happy misanthrope or the votary of vice, could fail to be 
impressed with the kindliness and benevolence of his nature. 
He considered it his duty to be kind to all. Xor did he fall 
into the opposite error of tolerating sin in being amiable 
toward the sinner. He could distinguish between his fellow-r 
men and their vicious inclinations and sinful practices; the 
former he loved, the latter iie was ever ready to rebuke; and 
when he did so, seldom failed to lessen their power and check 
their progress. 

The intellectual powers of Littleton Fowler were of a 
very high order. His views of every subject were liberal and 
comprehensive. Though his early edtication was defective, 
he compensated that by close and untiring application after 
he was admitted to the ministry. During the whole of his 
life he was a student. He had an excellent memory, which 
retained with remarkable tenacity the knowledge of whatever 
he studied. While he was thoroughly acquainted with his 
own profession, he avoided the error, too frequently com- 
mitted by professional men, of suffering his mind to become 
one-sided; he found time to liberalize his by considerable 
miscellaneous reading. His style of speaking, both in the 
pulpit and in ordinary conversation, was rigidly correct, so 
that I was surprised to learn from his own lips that he had 
never enjoyed the benefits of scholastic training, but that his 
attainments were almost entirely self-acquired. He reasoned 
accurately and logically, and seldom failed to convince his 
auditors of the truth of any position he assumed. He was 
always inclined to address the judgments of men first, and 
vv^hen they were convinced, or when he conceived that he had 
said enough to effect that object, he would follow with an 
appeal to their emotions and sympathies, which rarely failed 
of its elfect. He was interesting as a speaker, because he 
always led his hearers to his conclusions by the same process 
of reasoning which had brought his own mind to them. 1 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 117 

have often heard him commence his sermon in the mildest 
manner; he would continue for some time as if in conver^^a- 
tion ^yith his. audience, or as if demonstrating a proposition 
in mathematics; then warming with his subject, his fine eye 
would kindle with enthusiasm, his words would enchain every 
ear, and his sincerity would penetrate every heart. If to be 
able to instruct, to interest, to hold in breathless silence an 
assembly, be an orator, then he was an orator. The love of 
God, the love of man, the eternal happiness of heaven, were 
his favorite themes; and if you heard him discuss them 
when his mind and soul were fully aroused, you almost felt 
the arms of Divine mercy encircling you; you could forgive 
him whom you thought your direst enemy; you could see the 
benignant faces of saints and angels round ^'the throne of 
Him that liveth forever and ever." He seldom spoke of the 
threatenings of God — and I have always thought that these 
should l)e the last arguments used by a minister, for in this 
order they are laid down in the Holy Scriptures — but when 
he did, the sinner who heard him was awe-stricken and 
overpowered with a sense of his own unworthiness ; and he 
who could not be persuaded to do the will of God by his 
love and promises, was terrified into submission by fear of 
his righteous judgments. 

Mr. Fowler was one of the pioneers of the Methodist 
Episcopal church in Texas. His brother and companion, the 
Eev. Kobert Alexander, still lives. They were, in verity, 
"pillars in the temple." Without derogation from the many 
Avorthy men who have been and still are laboring to extend 
the influence of Methodism in our State, I think it may be 
safely said that the church in Texas has not yet produced 
the equal of either of them. For 3'ears past, I have known 
nothing of the Western Conference; but in the eastern there 
is not now, and has not been since his death, such a man as 
Mr. Fowler. And this, I think, neither the ministers nor 
members of the church will gainsay. 

On the 21st of June, 1838, not long after his arrival in 
Texas, Mr. Fowler was married to Mrs. Missouri M. Porter, 



118 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

then of Nacogdoches, a lady whose mind, disposition, and 
accomplishments rendered her fully worthy of his love and 
confidence. She made him ever a faithful, affectionate, and 
devoted wife. After his marriage he settled in Sabine 
County, where he established a home which was his while 
he lived, and is that of his family still. As the head of his 
family he was distinguished for that hospitality, generosity, 
courtesy, and open-hearted demeanor which everywhere and 
always characterize alike the gentleman and the Christian. 
Every good man was welcome at his house. The poor way- 
faring stranger was never turned away without food and 
shelter; but more than this, he was made to feel that in re- 
ceiving them he conferred a pleasure, not that he incurred 
an obligation. In his neighborhood he was beloved. If he 
had an enemy, I never heard of it. He obliged the man of 
the world, w^hen he was his neighbor, equally with the Chris- 
tian, and both were his friends. I have never known a man 
more generally esteemed for his social virtues. 

As a citizen, Mr. Fowler was faithful to all his obligations, 
public or private. He participated in one or two expeditions 
against the Indians after he came to Texas, and his officers 
and companions in arms bear witness that he was a brave 
soldier. If he reproved them for immorality or intemper- 
ance, it Avas done in an amiable spirit. When danger came, 
he was ready to march into the "thickest of the fight'^ to 
defend the hearths and families of his countrymen, and 
maintain the honor of his country's flag. 

Those benevolent institutions which, as auxiliaries to 
Christianity, are endeavoring to augment the sum of human 
happiness and diminish the sum of human misery, claimed 
also a share of Mr. Fowlers attention. He was a zealous 
and active member of the Ancient and Honorable Order of 
Free and Accepted Masons. Here, as elsewhere, he merited 
and received the confidence and attachments of his '^^Brethren 
and Companions." He was the first grand chaplain of the 
Grand Lodge of Texas, and was present at its organization. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 119 



The records of the Grand Lodge yet exhibit his name as one 
of its original members. 

Mr. Fowler often, and deservedly, held high positions in 
the church to which he belonged. He was presiding elder of 
the first district ever created in Eastern Texas, and was con- 
tinued one of the presiding elders of the East Texas Confer- 
ence until his death. In the General Conference of 1844 — 
memorable as being the last ever holden by the Methodist 
Episcopal Church previous to its division — he was one of the 
delegates from Texas. His position was a most delicate and 
responsible one. The delegates had been elected without any 
anticipation that the dangerous and agitating question of 
slavery would be the great element in the discussions and 
deliberations of the conference. They had to ''take the re- 
sponsibility,'' vote upon their own judgment, Mdthout instruc- 
tions, and according to their own opinions of their duties to 
their constituents. His co-delegate, originally from the 
North, went off with the abolition branch of the church. ISTot 
so Fowler. He deprecated the division of the church, and 
most devoutly and earnestly prayed that it might be averted; 
but when forced by the Northern members to take position, 
he cofuVd not and would not say by his vote that to hold 
slaves was necessarily and mherently a sin. He believed that 
slavery was recognized by, and specific directions given for 
the treatment of slaves in, the Bible, and hence he could 
not say that a slaveholder could not be a Christian. But, on 
the contrary, he believed that a Christian master who treats 
his slaves with humanity and kindness, with justice and 
forbearance; who gives them the moral instruction consistent 
with their capacity and relation, is performing an acceptable 
and important service in the economy of God's providence. 

In consistence with his duty as a Christian man and min- 
ister, Mr. Fowler devoted much reflection to the subject of 
death. Hence he was not unprepared when disease admon- 
ished him that his hour was not far off. A year or more 
previous to his death, he requested his friend, the Kev. Sam- 
uel A. Williams, to preach his funeral sermon, and himself 



120 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

selected the text form from which he desired it to be 
preached, which was the memorable declaration of St. Paul 
(Rom. 1-16), "For I am i.-ot ashamed of the gospel of 
Christ. ^^ His last sermon was preached in the village of 
Douglass, in Xacogdoches Count}', from the same text. It is 
said to have been equal to any of his best efforts. He died 
on the 29th of Januar}', 1846. He was taken sick early in 
that month, and declined rapidly. From the commencement 
of his illness, he seemed impressed witli the belief that he 
would not recover. I visited him several times, and found 
him always patient under his sufferings, and submissive to 
the will of God. He seemed to have no regret at dying, ex- 
cept the thought of leaving jiis family. He would frequently 
allude to his two small children, the older then being but 
six years of age, in the most touching manner; but would 
invariably recall himself to his Christian frame of mind by 
saying, "God will take care of them; He has promised to be 
a husband to the widow, and a father to the fatherless.^' 
There never was any permanent improvement in his condi- 
tion from the first moment of his attack. The ablest physi- 
cians of the country endeavored to arrest his disease, but 
without effect. Death had marked him for his own; and of 
this he constantly and confidently assured his friends. 

Late on the day before his death, I heard that it was 
thought that he could not survive the ensuing night, and I 
immediately started to see him. It was 8 or 9 o'clock at 
night when I arrived at his house. As soon as I approached 
his bedside, he recognized me. Addressing me familiarly, 
and by my given name (for I was then quite young), he 
inquired after the health of my mother, which was then 
very delicate, and my own. I replied according to the facts ; 
and he then said to me that he was very feeble — that he could 
not live much longer, but that he did not fear to die — that 
he was happy — that he hoped I would early embrace the 
Christian faith — that I would walk in conformity to the 
precepts of the gospel, so that I might, in death, realize the 
consolation he was then enjoying. I promised him I would 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 121 

try to do so. I saw that the angel of death had put his 
mark upon him. The sunken e3^e, the pallid countenance, 
the enfeebled pulse, the quickened breathing, and the chilly 
perspiration, all told, too plainly, that the spirit was fast 
forsaking its frail tenement. His intellectual faculties, how- 
ever, seemed to be in full vigor; and, what is still more re- 
markable, he retained their exercise almost to the very latest 
moment of his life. He manifested a great desire to con- 
verse with his friends, many of whom surrounded his bed- 
side, insomuch that, in view of his debility, he had frequently 
to be reminded that he was talking too much. In the morn- 
ing, previous to my arrival, he had requested that his step- 
son, Symmes Porter, who was then also quite ill, should be 
brought into his room, which was done. He then called his 
own small children to him, and presented each with a Bible, 
as his dying legacy. To his stepson, then a young man 
grown, he gave the Bible which he used while attending the 
celebrated General Conference of 18-i4, accompanying it with 
some exhortations to lead a pious and useful life; to his 
daughter Mary, the one which had been presented him as a 
token of esteem by the American Bible Society; to his son 
Littleton, the one which he used when he first entered the 
itinerant ministry in Tennessee; and to his children also he 
gave some pious admonitions, which they were then too 
young to understand, and invoked the blessing of God upon 
their pathway through life in the most affecting and power- 
ful manner. 

His stepson was not permitted to survive him very long, 
but, while he lived, followed his advice faithfully. His 
children. have been brought up l^y an affectionate mother and 
by a stepfather (the Eev. John C. Woolam), who has been 
as devoted to their interests as he could have been, and who 
has impressed upon them his principles and counsel as thor- 
oughly as he could have desired. I know them well, and it' 
gives me pleasure to say that they are an honor to their 
father^s memory. 

Not long after my arrival, while one of his physicians, a 



122 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

gentleman eminent in his profession, and justly acknowl- 
edged to possess considerable intellectual ability, though 
understood to be somewhat skeptical in regard to Christian- 
ity, was standing at the foot of the bed, he looked earnestly 
toward him, and said, "Doctor, I have tried the religion of 
Jesus Christ for more than twenty-five years, and I find it 
now what I have believed it to be during all that time; it 
gives me consolation in my dying hour; I have no fear of 
death; I shall be happy after death, and live in heaven for- 
ever. 0, I hope you v/ill study the gospel more, and yet 
believe in it to salvation/"^ Soon after this he requested 
Mrs. Fowler and his friend, the Kev. Mr. Woolam, to sing 
one of his favorite hymns, commencing, "0, land of rest, for 
thee I sigh." They did so, and he united in singing with 
great fervency. The effect of this scene can not be described; 
to be realized, it must have been felt. It seemed as if human 
voices had been permitted, for the moment, to borrow strains 
from the harmony in which seraphs and angels celebrate the 
praises of the living God. 

As the night wore away, he would occasionally, when not 
too feeble, converse with one and another of his friends, and 
generally in reference to his death, the truth of Christian 
doctrines and precepts, and the happiness which faith in them 
then afforded him. Once he addressed, with great feeling, 
and with a power of manner and language which no pen can 
portray, a friend and neighbor who was not a professor of 
religion, but who had been very kind to him, and said, "I can 
not tell you how thankful I feel for the many kindnesses 
you have done me; may God bless 3^ou for them. Will you 
look after my wife and children ?" The gentleman promised 
him that he would. "Then," continued Mr. Fowler, "will 
you meet me in heaven?" His friend hesitated; when, fix- 
ing his dark and lustrous eyes upon him more firmly, he said, 
in tones that would have melted a stoic, "0, will you ?" This 
his friend could not resist, and in tears replied, "I will try." 
Later in the night, after he had been sinking very rapidly, 
as we thought, for some time, upon being aroused, he seemed 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 123 

to recover strength for a few moments, when he saw that we, 
who surronndecl him, were ahirmecl. He inquired of his 
wife if we did not think he was dying; she could not reply. 
Then turning, calmly but resolutely, to his brother (Judge 
A. J. Fowler), who was near his bed, said he: "Jack, am I 
not dying P^ His brother said to him, "I think so/' "WelV 
said he, "you should have told me so; it does not alarm me; 
I felt that I must die. Death, to me, has no terrors. I feel 
that I can walk through the valley and shadow of death, and 
fear no evil. God is with me." After this, he called all 
who were in his room to his bedside, took each by the hand, 
and bade each an affectionate and affecting farewell; ex- 
horted each, in a few words — but how forcible none can 
forget — to walk in his paths of piety and virtue, and invoked 
on each the blessing of Almighty God. He requested his 
children to be brought to him once more: it was done; but 
his parting with them and the partner of his bosom I must 
not attempt to describe; it is sacred from public intrusion. 
Still later, and after a brief period of repose, he seemed to 
awake as if from a dream, and, looking around, said: "0, 
what a glorious sight. I have seen the angelic hosts, the 
happy faces of Just men made perfect;" and repeated, in a 
feeble voice, the couplet, 

"Farewell, vain world, I'm going home; 
My Savior smiles, and bids me come." 

Yet later, he inquired of some one if there were no lights in 
the room. Mr. Woolam told him there were. "Ah, well," 
said he, "my sight grows dim. Earth recedes. Heaven is 
approaching. Glory to God in the highest." N'ot long after 
this, it became evident that he could live but a few moments, 
and his friends collected around his bed, expecting every 
breath to be his last. A distressing, silence pervaded the 
room. Every heart was full. Xot an eye but dropped a tear. 
Once his wife leaned forward towards him, when he inquired 
who she was. She answered, "Your unhappy wife." "Ah," 



124 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



he replied in a whisper, "I thought it was an angel/' He 
spoke no more. His eyes slowly closed; the hearings of his 
chest became one by one more gentle, so that we could 
scarcely determine when the breath left his body. He died 
as tranquilly as summers twilight succeeds evening. There 
was no struggle — no violence ; but there was the "cold reality, 
too real." The clay alone was left: the spirit had departed 
to realms of eternal and unclouded light. 

Short as my experience is, i have several times seen Death 
subdue his victims. I have seen the wicked man die with 
blasphemy on his tongue, and turned with a shudder from 
the scene. I have seen men die in apparent apathy or in- 
difference as to a future state; but never, never have 1 wit- 
nessed a death which traced its incidents so powerfully in 
my memory. Eleven years have passed away since it oc- 
curred, and yet I can recall them as vividly as if they were 
of yesterday. I can never recur to them without heing 
irresistibly impressed with tlie Divine truth of the princi- 
ples and precepts of Christianity, and with the certainty that 
the grace of God which follows their observance will sustain 
us, when the dreadful hour of dissolution comes, with a 
peace and comfort which no human maxims can impart. 

JOTTINGS FROM THE OLD JOURNAL OF LITTLETON FOW^LER, 
waTH BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION. 



DORA FOWLER ARTHUR. 

[The authorities consulted are: Redford's "Methoaism in Ken- 
tucky," McFerrin's "Methodism in Tennessee," Thrall's "Methodism 
in Texas," and old diaries and letters of the missionary.]^ 

Littleton Fowler was born in Smith County, Tennessee, 
September 12, 1802. His father was Godfrey Fowler, of a 
sturdy old English family of Wake County, North Carolina, 

^This sketch was read by Mrs. James J. Arthur, June 17, 1898, 
before the second annual convention of the Texas State Historical 
Association, Austin, Texas, and was published in the Quarterly of 
that association in July, 1898. It was read and published by re- 
quest. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 125 

and his mother was Clara Wright, of an equally respectable 
family of Tennessee. 

In 1806 his parents, with their small family of four boys, 
moved to Caldwell County, Kentucky, and settled near 
Princeton. Here the old Fowler homestead is still known to 
this day and generation, as is also known the older Fowler 
homestead, dating back more than a century, near Wake 
Forest, Xorth Carolina. The family has claimed Methodist 
preachers ever since the labors of Wesley and Asbury in 
America, but lawyers, teachers, writers, and artists have 
divided family honors. Mr. Eedford says in his "Methodism 
in Kentucky :'' "One of the sweetest spirits that ever be- 
longed to the Methodist ministry of the West was Littleton 
Fowler." The following data are from the same source and 
from the missionary's old Kentucky diary. 

He began to preach in 1820, but his health, which was 
never robust, became so impaired that he was left without 
an appointment for a few years. In 1828 we find him in 
charge of the Bowling Green church; in 1829 he was the 
co-laborer at Louisville of H. H. Kavanaugh, who was later 
bishop. Here his health again failed him and he was given 
an easier work, Cynthiana Station, and later, Maysville. 

At a subsequent date he was transferred to the Tennessee 
Conference and stationed at Tuscumbia, Alabama. In 1833 
he was made financial agent of La Grange College, Alabama, 
which office he filled for four years, traveling over the South- 
ern States in the interest of this foremost Methodist college 
for the young men of the South. It has been said that he did 
more for that institution of learning than any other man 
except its president, Eobert Payne, who afterwards became 
a bishop of the M. E. church. 

Early in 1837 a call was made in the Alabama conference 
for volunteers to go as missionaries to the Eepublic of Texas. 
A tall, slender and delicate Jooking young man of thirty-five 
years was the first one to volunteer, saying, "Here am I, send 
me." He was Littleton Fowler. Dr. Martin Ruter, an older 
minister and a married man with a large family, then took 



126 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



his stand by the side of the first volunteer; they were im- 
mediately joined by Eobert Alexander, a hardy frontiersman, 
who said, "I am both strong and yonng, let me go/' [These 
facts have been related in the family circle by the widow of 
Littleton Fowler, and by A. J. Fowler, the youngest brother 
of the Texas missionary, who once contributed the same to 
the Texas Christian (Methodist) Advocate.] 

Thrall says in his "Methodism in Texas:" "In the early 
annals of Methodism in Texas, the name of Littleton Fowler 
will be forever conspicuous/' 

Two older brothers, John H. and Wiley P. Fowler, had 
emigrated to the Spanish province of Texas as early as 1818, 
and had joined a party of Tennessee relatives, George and 
Travis Wright, on Red River. Wiley P. Fowler soon re- 
turned to Kentucky to live a long and honorable life as one 
among the ablest jurists and judges of that proud State. 
John H. remained on Red River to serve his adopted country 
in many ways. In 1838 he represented Red River County as 
Senator in the Texas Congress. 

Bradford C. Fowler, another brother, was a Red River 
County vohmteer in the Texas Revolution of 1836. He was 
a young sergeant in Fannin's command, but he was separated 
while on detail duty from the main command at the time of 
Fannin's calamitous surrender, so he escaped the subsequent 
massacre at Goliad. He went to California in 1849 or '50 
to seek gold, but he found a grave instead. 

Andrew J. Fowler, familiarly known as "Jack Fowler," 
followed his missionary brother to Texas in 1837 to hold 
many positions of trust during old Republic days and through 
her early statehood. He served Red River County as Chief 
Justice in 1839-'40, and Lamar County as representative in 
the lower house of the Texas Congress in 1840-'41. When the 
shadow of the Civil War fell in Texas, the two surviving 
Fowler brothers. Colonel John H. and Judge "Jack" Fowler, 
were stanch Union men and Henry Clay Whigs, and, although 
the youngest one, my father, went to the front as lieutenant- 
colonel of Bass' Texas Regiment of cavalry, he never again 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 127 

adjusted himself to the dominating political conditions of 
his adopted State. 

With this introduction of Littleton Fowler and his 
brothers, in their early connection with Texas history, I 
quote tlie following from the memoirs of Littleton Fowler 
written by Hon. Frank B. Sexton of San Augustine, — ^he is 
now an aged and honored lawyer of El Paso, Texas, — and 
published in the Southern Quarterly Eeview, 1861, with the 
accompanying explanation by the editor: "The name of 
Rev. Littleton Fowler was inserted in the program of the 
^Biographical Sketches of Eminent Itinerant Ministers, dis- 
tinguished, for the most part, as pioneers of Methodism 
within the bounds of the M. E. Church South,' but the sketch 
of that excellent man did not reach us in time for insertion 
in that volume. * =^= * Having been for several years 
associated with him in the Texas conference, our acquaint- 
ance beginning with the organization of that body in 1840, 
it affords us great personal gratification to insert this inter- 
esting monograph in the Quarterly, though it is not a Review 
article." 

Mr. Sexton says: ^'My first recollections of the Rev. Lit- 
tleton Fowler are those of my early boyhood. He was my 
father's intimate and valued friend. * * * j distinctly 
remember, when he was one of our family group, that I was 
often impressed with his great capacity for entertaining and 
interesting the social circle. He was easy and versatile, oft*^ 
times humorous, and generally instructive, and always re- 
ceived attention without compelling it. * * * When 
Mr. Fov^•ler cnme to Texas, 1837, the Republic was then a 
€omparative wilderness. Many of his ministerial appoint- 
ments were separated by a distance of several days' journey, 
which often had to be traveled alone and without reference 
to weather or accommodation? of comfort. He had often to 
sleep on the ground, with no companion but his horse. Fre- 
quently it was necessary for him to leave the ordinary roads, 
or ^Indian trails,' to avoid meeting treacherous Indians. 
"His appointments were regularly filled, whether "few or 



128 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

many came out to hear him. He was as ready to dispense 
the Word of Life to two or three gathered together in the 
wilderness of Texas as he had been to the hundreds in the 
spacdous churches of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. 
He could pray as earnestly for the solitary sinner whom he 
met by the wayside, as for the senators assembled in the 
Congress of the infant Eepablic. 

"In stature Mr. Fowler was about six feet two inches. 
Apparently inclined to leanness, his frame was compactly 
knit. He was straight as an Indian, his forehead was high, 
expansive, and commanding ; his eyes dark, brilliant, and 
when stirred with emotion, fall of fire. 

''His intellectual powers ^\ere of a very high order. His 
views of every subject were liberal and comprehensive. 
Though his early education was defective — simply such as 
the frontier schools of his day afforded — he compensated that 
by close and untiring application to study after he was ad- 
mitted to the ministry. All his life he was an ardent student. 
His style of speaking, both in the pulpit and in the social 
circle, was rigidly correct, and I was surprised to learn from 
his own lips that he had never had the benefits of scholastic 
training, but that his attainments were almost entirely self- 
acquired. 

'T have often heard him commence a sermon in the mildest 
manner; then warming to his subject, his fine eye would 
kindle and his words w^ould enchain every ear, and his sin- 
cerity penetrate every heart. * * * If to be able to in- 
struct, to interest, to hold in breathless silence an entire 
assembly, be oratory, then Littleton Fowler was an orator." 

On the 21st of June, 1838, Mr. Fowler was married to Mrs. 
J. J. Porter of N'acogdoches, a lady of great beauty of person 
and many graces of the heart. She was one of the Lockwoo(S 
sisters of Newport, Ky., who were noted beauties and belles 
of Louisville, Frankfort, and Cincinnati. They were the 
daughters of an army officer, and she was born in 1806, at 
Fort Madison, La., — which was at Baton Eouge, — while her 
father was stationed at that frontier military post. Later. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 129 

her mother^ being widowed, married Johu Cleve Synimes, 
author of Svmnies* "Theory of Concentric Spheres/*' which 
made such a stir in the world about 1825. 

I have lately read with eager interest a letter from Boston 
of date 1825, from Anthony Lockwood, the stepson of the 
lecturer Symmes. The letter mentioned tells of the large 
crowds that greeted Colonel b-Symmes nightly in Boston, Xew 
York, Philadelphia, and other cities, to hear him lecture 
on his "Theory"' of a hole through the earth from pole to 
pole. 

Miss Missouri Lockwood married Dr. J. J. Porter,- in 
Xewport, Ky., and came with him to Texas to make their 
fortune, in 1835. He became a merchant at the old mission 
village of Xacogdoches, but ]ie soon met an early and shock- 
ing death. A large bear had been captured and chained to a 
tree near the old stone fort. Late at night Dr. Porter was 
returning home vvhen all others were asleep, when he walked 
into the arms of the powerful beast and was killed before 
his cries could bring help. His wife, who had accompanied 
him to Texas to seek riches, remained to subsequently marry 
a missionary and share with his many and varied labors, be- 
coming herself the first ivoman missionary of Texas. 

For years she was his constant companion, traveling on 
horseback over Indian trails to minister to sick and dying 
emigrants and settlers, or to bury the dead. Many a time 
she fashioned a simple shroud out of a sheet or a curtain, by 
the light of a tallow dip, wJiJle her husband helped to nail 
together a rude coffin for some Texas pioneer wdio had died 
in Texas wilds far from home and kindred. 

This remarkable woman, the exponent of all that was 
good, beautiful and true, of native refinement and great 
culture, possessing rare piety and broad Christian humanity, 

-The Rev. Ellis Smith, grandson of Rev. Fowler and wife, when 
pastor of the M. E. church of Nacogdoches, learned that Dr. Por- 
ter's death did occur from injuries received by a chained bear, but 
not as I recited it. It seems that he had incurred the beast's 
hatred by worrying it, and it killed him in the daytime, or rather 
so injured the doctor that he died. 
9 — FoMier. 



130 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

lived out her life of rich deeds well beloved throughout all 
East Texas as "Aunt'' or "Mother'' Woolam, the wife of the 
venerable Methodist preacher, John C. Woolam. She sur- 
vived her missionary husband nearl)^ one-half of a century. 
Her memory is cherished as something beautiful and precious 
by all her descendants and kindred. Truly, it Avas a privi- 
lege to know her. 

The foregoing facts may seem to be too much of a personal 
nature, but they belong to a sketch of the missionary and to 
Texas history; old letters and journals, which establish every 
proof, are in possession of the author of this sketch. 

Quotations from the journals of the missionary are now 
begun on his departure from Ahil)ama for the mission field 
of Texas : 

"Tuscumbia, Ala., August 22, 1887.— This day I start for 
the Eepublic of Texas, there to labor as a missionary. I have 
recently been appointed to this work by the Board of Foreign 
Missions at New York. The impressions on my heart in the 
call to go as a missionar}' to '^J^exas were as strong and as loud 
as was my call to the ministry; consequently I go fully ex- 
pecting the presence and blessings of God. While view- 
ing the labours and privations that await me, my soul 
is unmoved. Eather do 1 rejoice that I am accounted worthy 
to labour and suffer for my blessed Lord: yet the fact of 
leaving my country, my kindred, my friends and brethren, 
fills me with deep sorrow and touching affliction. Eev. Dr. 
Martin Enter aud Eev. Eobert Alexander are to be my co- 
labourers in the mission field of Texas. 

"Tn Arkansas I engaged John B. Denton, a local preacher, 
to accompany me to Texas to work in the missionary field. 
* * * We held a camp-meeting near Clarksville, Eed 
Eiver County, near the first of October. From Clarksville, 
in the portecting company of three others, we two, with 
"provisions for four days packed on our horses, struck out 
;across Texas for Nacogdoches. We slept in the forest four 
nights, and arrived at Nacogdoches on October 16, 1837, and 
preached two sermons. On our way thither we passed the 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 131 



unburied body of a man, who had been shot six weeks 
previously for horse-stealing. 

"October 19th we reached San Augustine and preached 
four nights in succession. There I began a subscription for 
building a church. In less time than two weeks a lot was 
deeded, $3500 were subscribed, trustees w^re appointed, and 
the building was under written contract to be finished before 
the first of next September. Traise God from whom all 
blessings flow.' '' 

This was certainly the church, the laying of the corner- 
stone of which is written of in an isolated part of the 
missionary's Kentucky journal. It has often been written 
that Littleton Fowler set up the first Protestant church in 
Texas. However that may be, here is quoted the isolated 
entry mentioned : 

"San Augustine, Republic of Texas, January 17, 1837. 
[The figure "7"' is evidently wrong, a slip of the pen, and 
should ])c 8.] — To-day the corner-stone of a Methodist Epis- 
copal Cliurch was laid in this place, according to the usages 
of the Masonic order. Between forty and fifty Masons were 
present, and from five to eight hundred people, about one 
hundred of whom were ladies. Two speeches were delivered, 
the first by myself and the second by General T. J. Eusk, 
in his clear and convincing style. The event was one of 
moral grandeur. This corner-stone is the first one of a 
Protestant church west of the Sabine liiver. * * * rpj^-^ 
is only the beginning, — the first step of Protestantism that 
will some day march a grand army to the confines of the 
Eepublic of Texas. ^' 

During the session of the East Texas Conference held in 
Palestine last December, 1897, the old bell from this church 
was presented as a historic relic to that Conference by Mr. 
Columbus Cartwright of San Augustine. The son of the 
missionary. Presiding Elder Littleton Morris Fowler, and a 
grandson, Ellis Smith, preacher in charge of Jefl'crson 
Station, were requested to convey the bell to the altar and 



132 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

there ring out its old voice in memory of early Methodism 
in Texas. 

The presentation speech was made by Presiding Elder 
Thomas J. Smith. The son of the missionary was requested 
to give the speaker historic data relating to the old bell, but 
he deferred to the author of this sketch. A few days later, 
great was my amazement to see the bell presentation written 
up in the Galveston Xews with the startling assertion that 
this old bell was first rung on the day of the laying of the 
corner-stone. I met the Xews correspondent a few hours 
later, and I told him I was "so glad to learn when the old 
bell of the first Methodist church in Texas was rung for the 
first time. All the light I had on the subject was a letter 
from Judge W. P. Fowler of Kentuck}^, — about 1840, — say- 
iug that the First Methodist Church of Louisville, which the 
missionary had served as pastor, would send him its first bell 
for his first Texas church."^ The News correspondent replied 
that nobody said when it was rung for the first time in Texas, 
so he "fixed it up that vray.'' Thus is much of our history 
writ. 

Again quotations from the old journal are resumed : 

"On the night of the 14th November, 1837, I preached in 
a school house in Washington-on-the-Brazos to a crowded 
assembly with many people standing before the door. Here 
Mr. Gay gave two lots, 100x120 feet, for a Methodist church. 
The Baptists have the frame of a church already up here. 

"From Washington I traveled (on horseback) to the capi- 
tal city of Houston. I arrived Sunday morning, November 
19th, and preached in the afternoon to a very large assembly. 
* * * Here I find mucli vice, gaming, drunkenness, and 
profanity the commonest. The town is ten months old and 
has 800 inhabitants; also many stores, and any number of 
doggeries. [Note the old-time Texian word.] 

"November 21st.— To-day the Senate of the Texas Con- 
gress elected me chaplain to serve the rest of the session. It 
is my prayer that this act of the upper house may prove an 
open door for the entrance of the Gospel into the new Ee- 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 133 



public. I pray that God will give me grace, keep me humble, 
and make me faithful in the discharge of m}^ religious 
duties. 

"jS'ovember 34th. — To-day I have been listening to the 
trial of S. Ehoades Fisher, Secretary of the Texas Navy, in 
the Senate chamber. He stands impeached by President 
Houston. Gray and Kaufman are the counsel for the prose- 
cution, ex-President Burnett and General Eusk for the de- 
fense. Gray opened the trial by the reading of documents 
for two hours and one-half. He was followed by Burnett 
at some length and with much bitterness tow^ards the Chief 
Executive; his speech disclosed a burning hatred for the 
President. Eusk spoke in a manly style that was clear, 
forcible, and full of common sense — the best kind of earthly 
knowledge. 

"November 25th. — The trial of Mr. Fisher was continued 
to-day by Mr. John Wharton in a most furious tirade against 
President Houston ; it was the bitterest invective I ever heard 
uttered by man. He was followed by Mr. Kaufman, who was 
quite respectful to Mr. Fisher ; his whole speech was fair and 
well-taken. 

"November 26th. — I preached morning and night in the 
Capitol to large and respectful assemblies. * * * 

"November 27th. — Steamboat arrived to-day with 103 
passengers from the United States. * * * 

"November 28th. — The Senate is in secret session on the 
case of Fisher. * * * 1 gave one dollar for one-half 
pound of bacon for a poor, sick, and hungry man. * * * 

[Here occurs a break in the record caused by the serious 
illness of the recorder. After two weeks the journal re- 
sumes] : 

"December 12th. — Many have been my temptations since 
coming here, but thank God, they have been overcome. I 
have lived near to God by prayer, preaching, visiting the 
sick and dying, and burying the dead. 

"December 19th. — Congress adjourned to-day. 

"December 21st. — This morning I leave for San August- 



134 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



ine. I have obtained a deed to a lot in Houston for a house 
of public worship. It is situated near the Capitol, and is 
125 feet long and 250 feet wide/' 

Thrall's ''Methodism in Texas'' says: "During the time 
he — L. F. — was in Houston he received from the Messrs. 
Allen a title to a half block of ground upon which the church 
and the parsonage in that city now stand" (1872). 

His journal tells also of his negotiations for church lots 
and the erection of church buildings in Xacogdoches and 
Marshall, in addition to the churches of San Augustine, New 
Washington, Houston, and other places. 

As the records between are of church work alone, entries 
made at Houston during the spring session of Congress are 
again resumed: 

"April 5, 1838. — I left Xacogdoches in company of Gens. 
Eusk and Douglass and Drs. Eowlett and Richardson for 
Houston, where we arrived on the 12th, after six days of 
travel over good roads in fair weather. We found Houston 
much improved and improving. There is much building and 
a great increase in population. The Senate had organized 
when I arrived and the Rev. Mr. William Y. Allen, a Presby- 
terian minister, had been appointed chaplain pro tem. He 
impresses me as a man of piety. Rev. Mr. Xewell was invited 
by the Speaker to so serve the House. Mr. N. is an Episcopal 
minister who is said to be engaged in writing a history of 
Texas." 

In a private letter, dated April 21st, Mr. Fowler speaks 
more freely of the chaplaincy, as follows: "Two days ago 
there was held an election in the House for chaplain. The 
result showed one l^lank, four votes for Mr. Newell, fourteen 
for Mr. Allen, and seven by way of burlesque for an apostate 
Catholic priest of San Antonio. Had they so handled the 
sacred office in the Senate, they could have done their own 
praying so far as I was concerned, for I would not have 
served them." 

"Sunday, April 14th. — I preached morning and afternoon 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 135 



in the Capitol, Mr. Allen at night. There were large ga:ther- 
ings at all three services." 

"April 16th. — To-night I attended the assembly of the 
Grand Lodge in the Senate chamber. There were about 
forty (40) members present, and much decorum was ob- 
served by the fraternity." 

Here is quoted a paragraph from the memoir by Mr. Sex- 
ton: "Mr. Fowler was a zealous and active member of the 
Ancient and Honorable Order of Free and Accepted Masons. 
Here, as elsewhere, he merited and received the confidence 
and attachment of his bretliren. He was the first grand 
chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Texas, and was present at 
its organization. The records of the Grand Lodge still ex- 
hibit his name as one of its original members." 

"April 23d. — I was invited to dine with President Hous- 
ton, but declined on account of indisposition and for other 
reasons. He had about a dozen friends attendant on his 
hospitality." 

Again the private letter of date 21st April is quoted 
from: "To-day is the second anniversary of the Battle of 
San Jacinto, and a fine time for Big Bugs to get drunk 
without reproach. Happy am I to say that my friend and 
brother General Eusk is much reformed. Last night a splen- 
did ball was given at the hotel. About fifty ladies and two 
hundred or three hundred gentlemen were in attendance. I 
enclose a ball invitation which may afford you some amuse- 
ment to see how such things are done in the capital of tn« 
Kepublic. Please do not infer from this that I am partial 
to such assemblies." 

One. more incident copied from his journal and a letter 
dated May 14th: "So soon as I recovered from my serious 
illness I took a trip to Galveston Island with the President 
and the members of Congress, and saw great men in high 
life. If what I saw and heard were a fair representation, 
may God keep me from such scenes in future. The island 
is destitute of timber, but seems to be quite healthy. We 
were most hospitably entertained. It is destined to be the 



136 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



chief point of commercial importance, perhaps the chief city 
of Texas. On our return on Sunday afternoon, about one- 
half on board got wildly drunk and stripped themselves to 
their linen and pantaloons. Their Bacchanalian revels and 
blood-curdling profanity made the pleasure boat a floating 
hell. The excursion to me was one of pain and not pleasure. 
1 relapsed from this trip and was brought near to the valley 
of death.'' 

After the marriage of Mr. Fowler that spring (1838) he 
<:'ontinued to reside in Nacogdoches .and San Augustine for 
.several years. Later he placed his family, consisting of his 
wife, two children, Mary and Littleton, and his stepson, 
Symmes Porter, on his farm in Sabine County. For their 
protection during his many and prolonged absences, he en- 
gaged an illiterate but aspiring and worthy young man, John 
C. Woolam, promising Mr. Woolain a home and an education 
in return. He was the same friend to whose keeping Mr. 
Fowler gave his family when he was dying. So worthy of 
the trust confided to him did Mr. Wooham prove that he be- 
came, in the course of time, a husband to the widow and a 
father to the orphans of the distinguished preacher whose 
memory he never ceased to revere ''e'en down to old age." 
Father Woolam was a noble man. 

Mr. Fowler held responsible positions in his church till 
his death. After the death of Dr. Enter, in the spring of 
1838, Mr. Fowler succeeded him as superintendent of the 
Texas Mission till the organization of the Texas Conference 
'in 1840. He was then made presiding elder of the East 
Texas district, which embraced Texas territory between Red 
•River and the Gulf of Mexico and the Sabine and the Trinity 
.rivers. 

For nine years Mr. Fowler represented the Texas work in 
the general conferences of the United States. So stirring 
w^ere his appeals at those assemblies for co-laborers in Texas 
that many young men responded to the call, and came out in 
small companies to die of Texas malaria while preaching the 
word of God to the Texas pioneers. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 137 

Mr. Fowler was co-delegate with a Mr. Clark of Austin to 
the General Conference held in Xew York in 1844, memor- 
able for the division of the ]\Iethodist church into N'orth and 
South. Mr. Clark took his stand with the abolition party, 
while Mr. FowUr voted with the Southern delegation. His 
letters to his wife during that troubled session show great 
anguish of spirit, for he sadly deplored the wrathful separa- 
tion. 

He, with his beloved co-worker, Eobert Alexander, was the 
moving spirit in the founding of Rutersville College, 1838, 
in memory of the great and lamented Dr. Ruter. He founded 
Wesley College at San Augustine, 1842, and made his brother 
Jack Fowler professor of mathematics and ancient languages 
in that institution. Fowler Institute of Henderson, Rusk 
County, was so named in memory of Littleton Fowler, and 
many men of middle life to-day got their education at that 
East Texas school. 

Littleton Fowler died at his home in Sabine County, Jan- 
uary 29, 1846, at the comparatively early age -of forty-four 
years. This soldier of the cross is fifty years dead and for- 
gotten by his beloved Texas, but his reward is where noble 
deeds are never forgotten. His bones lie under the pulpit 
of McMahon Chapel, which stands in a sequestered spot 
twelve miles east of San Augustine, in Sabine County. 
There was where he organized his first Methodist "society" 
in Texas. Another building has taken the place of the old 
log church of his burial, but his grave has been undisturbed 
this half century. A marble slab against the wall bears this 
inscription : 

"Sacred to the memory of Rev. Littleton Fowler, Method- 
ist Missionary to the Republic of Texas. Kentucky was his 
beloved State; Texas his adopted country; Heaven is his 
eternal home." 

With one more quotation — this time from Mr. Thrall, who 
knew the missionary personally — and this sketch closes : "In 
forming an estimate of the character of Littleton Fowler, 
the first thing that strikes one is its perfect symmetry. His 



138 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



fine physical form furnished a fitting tenement for his noble 
mental traits. In his manner, dignity and att'ability were 
beautifully blended. He had a most benevolent expression of 
countenance, a keen, piercing eye^ and a musical, ringing 
voice. His mind was well cultivated ; his religious experience 
was cheerful; his convictions of the truth and the power of 
the gospel were remarkably strong. He was the very man 
for Texas, and when he died Texas Methodism went in 
mourning. lie was buried under the pulpit of his home 
chureh where he had so (^ftcn stood as a Christian ambassa- 
dor." 



^iSS^ 



The Friends and Aoiiuaintances of the late 

REV. 1.1TTX.ETOK FQ-WLER 

are invited to attend the Hurial of his Kemains. at 

Pc^laUon$ tfhapcl 

from his late residence, in Sabine Oounty, o« To-morrow, at 

11 OHTock, A. M. 

San A'gustine. January 29ih, IS-IG. 



^ 



ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 13& 

IN MEMORY OF MRS. M. M. WOOLAM. 

[Written by the Kov. J)r. K. S. Finly, Tyler, Texas, for the Texas 
Christian Advocate.] 

"Mrs. Missouri M. Woolani was born at Fort ^Madison 
(now Baton Rouge, La.), June 10, 1807. Her father was a 
military otiieer by the name of Loekwoocl, in command of 
that i)ost, but when a fort was located at Newport, Ky., lie 
was transferred there, where this daughter was reared and 
educated. When he died, his widow married later, another 
officer, John Clcve Symmes. In the Southern Bivouac, a 
literary and historical magazine published at Louisville, Ky., 
is a glowing tribute to the Lockwood family, including the 
youngest daughter, the subject of this sketch; it claims for 
her beauty of person, grace of manner, and brilliancy of in- 
tellect. She was married to Dr. J. J. Porter in 1825, when 
she was eighteen years of age. They moved to Nacogdoches, 
Texas, a province of Mexico, in 1835, Dr. Porter dying in 
1836. In 1838 she was married to the renowned missionary 
of East Texas, the Rev. Littleton Fowler, whose name is an 
ointment poured forth in the history of East Texas Meth- 
odism. 

"Forty-five years have come and gone since the grave 
closed upon the mortal remains of that great and good man, 
yet his name is a household word in Texas; like the name 
of Robert Alexander, it is confined to no locality, — their 
names and liistory are the inheritance of Texas Methodism. 
The lamented Fowlers career was brief but momentous in 
its results; he did not live to see the temple completed, but 
lie helped to lay well its foundations. His name will live in 
the history of Texas Methodism when written five hundred 
years hence. 

''When ]\Ir. Fowler nuirried, he and his wife were both well 
married. They were not only adapted to each other but to 
the great work of the mission field already mapped out before 
their eyes, extending from the Gulf of Mexico on the south 
to the Red River on the north, and from the Louisiana State 



140 ANXAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

line on the east to the Triuity Eiver on the west. Two 
annual conferences are now embraced in that territory. The 
missionary was aflame^ soul and body, to meet the responsi- 
bilities and to magnify his ofEce of superintendent of his 
wide field white unto the harvest of souls. He was well 
equipped for the heroic campaign; of an elastic physique, 
fiery of soul, with magnetic eyes and a trumpet voice highly 
cultivated, he possessed a will-force that defied defeat. The 
King's business required haste and a wise utilization of time 
and talents. The mw country was almost entirely without 
roads and bridges, which made travel on wheels imprac- 
ticable; Mrs. Fowler understood the situation fully, so she 
mounted a hardy steed and became the traveling companion 
of her missionary husband. She made one entire round of 
his district, a distance of 800 miles, and subsequently made 
long trips to different parts of the Republic with him. When 
it is remembered that the population was sparse and rough 
as the country itself, we may justly conclude that the "mis- 
sionary's wife was blessed with great physical powers of 
endurance and a driving will-force that overcame most for- 
midable obstacles. Nothing admitted of compromise when 
duty to God, the church, or her husband was made plain to 
her. 

"■Two children — a son and a daughter — were the issue of 
their marriage. The son, who is now and has been for many 
years a member of the East Texas Conference, bears worthily 
the name of his honored father, Littleton Fowler; the 
daughter, Mrs. Mary P. Smith, lives in Chireno, Xacogdoches 
County, and is a cultured Christian woman. The Eev. 
Littleton Fowler died January 29, 1846, in the full prime of 
his manhood. Dark was the shadow which fell on Texas and 
the Methodist church when the news went forth, 'Littleto/i 
Fowler is dead!' The preachers wept as for a father, and 
the people were sad; a prince had fallen in Israel, a sun 
had set at noon. 

"After remaining a widow three years, Mrs. Fowler mar- 
ried (the third time) the Eev. John C. Woolam. She was 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. . 141 

then forty-two years olcl^ in the matured l)loom of woman- 
hood, and poHsessing imabated zeal and devotion to her 
Master^s cause. She resumed her place in the conference as 
the wife of an itinerant preacher, which position she retained 
with honor and usefulness to the day of her death, a term, of 
forty-two years. She was eighty-four years of age when she 
fell asleep in Jesus; her mother lived to the age of ninety. 
Her death occurred while she and her husband were on a 
visit to her daughter, Mrs. Smith; she was stricken with 
apoplexy at 8 :30 a. m. and died at 11 :30 the same morning, 
July 10, 1891. Had she been permitted to recognize the 
sainted Fowler, the noble husband of her earlier life, another 
link would have been added to the golden chain of evidence 
that there is a spiritual world near at hand. Like that 
flaming torch of evangelism, George Whitefield, she did not 
give dying testimony to the gospel, for she had given a living 
one. Adieu, sainted matriarch of the East Texas Confer- 
ence; may thy mantle fall on the wives of our preachers!" 

The devotion of mother and daughter was beautiful and 
touching to see. Mrs. Smith greatly resembled her mother 
in personal appearance; her tall slenderness came from her 
father, but she had her mother's dark hair and eyes, as well 
as her regularity of features; she was a beautiful \voman, and 
a mother many times. She soon followed her mother to the 
hind of the blest. "Father Woolam,'' as he was affectionately 
called Ijy young and old, died a few years afterward at the 
home of his stepson, Littleton Fowler. All my girlhood I 
felt an awe and veneration for my Aunt Woolam ; she seemed 
sup( rior to all others with whom 1 compared her, — so beauti- 
ful, so sensible, so good. I have knelt by her side in the 
"amen corner'' when she was asked to lead in prayer, in 
which she seemed wonderfully gifted. When I think of her 
I remember her as something precious, tender, and true. 

]»q"0TE. — Mrs. Missouri M. Fowler was born Lockwood 
and she lived in Newport, Ivy., in her days of young lady- 
hood. She had several sisters and one brother — Anthonv — 



142 . ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

with, two stepbrothers, named Americus and Harrison 
Symmes, and they had a sister Madeline, who married and 
lived in Toronto, Canada. The youngest of the family was 
John Cleve Symmes, Jr., a half-brother, who graduated at 
West Point Military Academy and patented an improved 
gun. Maria Lock wood was a belle for many years. Her 
lover whom she intended to wed was killed in a duel, from 
which shock she never recovered, and she lived to old age 
without ever nuirrying. ^latilda was married to Frank 
Honore of Louisville, Ky., and became the mother of Mrs. 
Potter Palmer, of American fame. Another Lockwood sis- 
ter — Louisiana — married one of the Taylor family of Ken- 
tucky; after his death she married Joel Baker, — latterly of 
Frankfort, Ky. She and her two grown Taylor sons died one 
summer at Drennan Springs, of typhoid fever, in a few weeks 
of one another. Her sister ^Lxria then went to live at Mr. 
Baker's home to help him in his family affairs, but he com- 
mitted suicide in his prolonged melancholia. 

Americus Symnies was for many years a prominent citizen 
of Louisville, and he owned a handsome country seat a few 
miles out from that city. There was another Lockwood 
sister, Martha, who married a Scott, and later, Josiah Ram- 
say of Jefferson City, Mo. In one of Maria's letters to her 
sister she mentions having dined that day at a dinner given 
General A. Jackson, in Louisville, wdio inquired most inter- 
estedly of her mother and the Symnies baby — John C. S., Jr. 
I have heard that this interesting infant grew up to mature 
manhood and went to Russia, where he married some titled 
lady, when his identity became absorbed in the nobility of 
that kingdom, but I can not vouch for the accuracy of the 
story; there may be more romance in it than reality. But 
this I do know, my aunt by ]narriage, Mrs. Littleton Fowler, 
was a cultured, elegant, sensible Christian woman, and all 
who knew her intimately can heartily echo my sentiments. 
Peace to her memory. 

On afterthought I give a literal transcription of the letter 
addressed to Miss Missouri Lockwood, N"ewport, Ky., and is 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 143 



dated at Louisville, or rather, the date is hlank : "Dear 
Sister: * * * 1 spent m day in company of Jeneral 
Jackson who told me he spent the day with Mah and Pah 
at Jeneral Taylors, he spoke of Mahs lovely baby Boy as he 
called him. he said he thought him one of the finest children 
he had ever seen in his life, he thought Mah had changed 
very little indeed, he was very agreeable indeed and ap- 
peared very glad to see me and was very attentive, and said 
I resembled my father very much. I saw him several times 
after that and spent an evening with him. I did not see 
Mrs. Jackson, she remained in town But one day and I did 
not know she was in town untill evening, she was consider- 
ably called on and thare was a grate menny remarks made 
about her. the Jeneral had a dinner given him he was very 
much admired indeed and think by coming hear he has made 
a number of friends, the people are about commencing to 
prepare for the reception of Lafyette. he is expected on the 
25 of this month. 1 do flatter myself I will have the pleasure 
of seeing him. they intend giving him a ball and dinner. I 
suppose thare will be a grate parade in Cincinnati on the 
occation. if they give a Ball I think you had better go for 
that will be your only oppertunity of seeing him." 

The town of Newport, Ky., is on the opposite bank of the 
river from Cincinnati, and lience in easy distance of visiting 
by "the Misses Lockwood." By the allusion of the coming 
of the great and revered Lafayette we are able to date the 
foregoing letter in the year 1824. The writing is in a fine, 
finical style, as the ladies of quality of that period wrote; 
the paper is yellow with age, but the ink is not yet very pale. 
I opine that the spelling is as good as any woman's of that 
day and generation. The writer. Miss Maria Lockwood, was 
a belle and beauty of Cincinnati, Louisville, and the military 
post of Newport, of which post her stepfather. Colonel John 
Cleve Symmes, was an officer. Her own father had been an 
^officer whom General Jackson had known also. 



144 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

LETTER OF A ERIEXD SIGXED ''DUFFIELD.''' 

"Mississippi Springs, July 10, 1854. — Mrs. Woolam : My 
Dear Madam. — Amid all the excitements of life I have not 
forgotten my attachments and obligations to my early 
friends. It has ever been my purpose to remember the 
children of my dear friend, Littleton Fowler, whom I always 
loved w^th the devotion of a brother. While time lasts with 
me I shall never forget that noble-minded man who com- 
bined all the qualities of a noble, chivalrous, honorable man- 
hood with the virtues and deep piety of a Christian. How 
questionable are the decrees of Providence which pass to the 
tomb the great and good, while unfortunate and unhappy 
creatures are left to trail in the dust a miserable existence. 

"I have thought of you and your family so often and 
intended to visit you when I was last in Texas, but I came 
by Shreveport instead of San Augustine. I have been here 
the past month for my health, and I shall leave- next week for 
Kentucky. I shall be in Texas at the Milam court, when ] 
shall call on you. 

"Now I want to send your son (Littleton) to the Military 
School near Georgetown, Ky. It is one of the best schools 
in the United States, where military tactics are taught with 
the collegiate branches of an education. Xow, madam, if 
you will allow me I would be glad to give your son the 
means and opportunity of making of himself a splendid man. 
I have not seen him since he was a small boy, but then his 
sparkling eye and well-formed head gave promise of great 
talent and brilliancy, and, as he has the blood of Littleton 
Fowler running in his veins, he will have energy and per- 
severance. 

"His further education shall not cost you one dollar, for 
I shall esteem it an especial favor, if you will permit me, to 
pay all his traveling expenses, clothing, tuition, books, and 
pocket money. He will not be under my control but under 
the supervision of yourself and Parson Wool am. Your lovely 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 145 

little daughter nmst be almost grown; hlie will doubtless 
make a splendid woman. 

"My health is about as usual; I suffer much at stated 
periods, then again I have tolerable health. My daughter 
whom you saw in Louisville is grown and is a most beautiful 
and splendid woman; she is nearly eighteen, and beloved by 
all who know her. She is with me and has been for two 
years. She is more attached to me than I have ever seen a 
daughter to a father. She consults my washes in the smallest 
actions of her life, so you may know how I love her, and 
what a bright star she is to me in my dark and gloomy 
life. 

"I have much to say to yoa when I see you again. I hope 
you and your family are enjoying happiness and prosperity. 
'^Most respectfully, Madam, your true friend, 

"Duffield/' 

J' 

It is well to say in passing that the kind offer was not 
accepted, as the young man was educated at McKenzie Col- 
lege, Clarksville, Texas. My mother remembers the Duf- 
lields of early Texas; they were very wealthy, owning fabu- 
lous numbers of leagues and labors of rich lands, and carry- 
ing on an extensive trade with Mexico, the gold and silver 
being conveyed on pack-mules for commercial exchange. The 
writer of the above must have been one of that family. 

In studying any character, or subject, it is all the more 
interesting to see it in all lights and from every point of 
view ; this letter from a rich worldly man shows how the 
pioneer preacher, poor m this world's goods, was loved and 
esteemed by all who came in social contact with him. Deep 
down in the heart of every man who has the generous im- 
pulses of a man, there is a true admiration for the Christian 
graces, when is echoed the beautiful sentiment so happily 
voiced by Tennyson : 

" 'Tis only noble to be good; 

Ivind hearts are more than coronets, 
And simple faith than Norman blood." 
10 — Fowler. 



146 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



MRS. MARY PITT ( FOWLER ) SMITH AXD HER DESCENDANTS. 

Eldest child and only daughter of the Rev. Littleton 
Fowler and Missouri M. (born Lockwood), his wife, was born 
in San Augustine, Texas, September 2, 1839. She was given 
the best advantages of an education which that early settled 
section of the. State then afforded; she grew up a charming, 
beautiful youpg woman, inheriting the famous beauty of her 
mother, who was one of the "beautiful Lockwood girls,'' and 
also an aunt of Mrs. Potter Falmer. Mary was married to 
Professor Gilbert Motier Lafayette Smith, of Nacodoches, 
Texas, on June 39, 1858. He was born March 12, 1836, near 
Xewnan, Ga. ; was graduated from the University of Vir- 
ginia, and was a teacher many years at Chireno, Xacogdoches 
Count}^, Texas, where he and his wife spent the remaining 
years of their lives. He died there September 28, 1884. 
Mary Pitt (Fowler) Smith died at Chireno on October 17, 
1892, leaving a large family of sons and daughters to reflect 
credit on the name of Smith and the hallowed memory of 
their grandparents, vvho were the early messengers and ser- 
vants of God in the Texas wilderness, viz : 

I. WOOLAM lEA M., born July 14, 1859, in Sabine 
County (at the old home of his grandparents, it is pre- 
sumed) ; he was mostly taught by his father and received a 
liberal schooling; he entered the medical department of Tu- 
lane University, New Orleans, in the autumn of 1883, taking 
his M. D. degree in the Atlanta Medical College in 1886 ; 
also post graduate courses in New Orleans Polyclinic in 1890, 
and in N'ew York Polyclinic in 1891, and in Galveston Medi- 
cal College in 1898. He is now a useful practicing physician 
of Nacogdoches, Texas. He married Mollie Curl, August 8, 
1886, and has four children : 1, Mary Elizabeth, born 
August 21, 1887; 2, Clarence Thomas, born August 26, 1892 ; 
3, Ira Curl, born October 6, 1894; 4, Littleton Ellis, born 
October 26, 1897. 

II. MARY ELLEN, born at Mount Enterprise, Rusk 
County, Texas, August 21, 1860 ; was educated in her father's 
school, at Chireno ; was married to John Lafavette Pack on 



ANNALi^ OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 147 

October A, 1876. Issue: 1, Thomas J., born January 19, 
1878; 2, Laura Miriam, born July 11, 1880; 3, Josephine 
Maud, born January 11, 1883; 4, Ira Littleton, born October 
4, 1886; 5, Gilbert Smith, born January 24, 1889; 6, Eichard 
Ellis, born January 12, 1892; 7, Emmett W., born January 
2, 1896. They reside in Chireno, Texas. Ellen is for her 
grandmother Smith. 

III. RUBY, born November 27, 1862; was educated by 
her father; was married to John M. Weeks on April 5, 1880 ; 
he was born March 15, 1851. They had issue: 1, Mary 
Lucile, born February 26, 1881; 2, Elbert Morgan, born 
March 26, 1883; 3, Maud, born November 10, 1887. Ruby 
(Smith) Weeks died at Chireno on August 25, 1890. 

IV. LITTLETON FOWLER, born June 5, 1864, at 
]\[ount Enterprise, Texas; was educated by his father, and 
later in high schools and Alexander Institute, Kilgore, 
Texas; studied for the Methodist ministry and was a member 
of the East Texas Conference three years, which he was 
compelled to retire from on account of bad health; he mar- 
ried Pet Little, 1885; they had children: 1, Little- 
ton Fowler, Jr., born March 20, 1889; 2, Charlcie Mary, 
born June 19, 1891; 3, Ruby Gladys, born August 28, 1895. 
They reside in Chireno, Texas. 

V. EMMETT W., born at Sexton, Sabine County, Texas, 
on February 1, 1866; graduated with the degree of A. B. in 
the South w^estern University (Methodist), Georgetown, 
Texas, in 1888; served as principal of East Texas schools 
three years; graduated from the law school of the Texas 
University, taking the LL. B. degree, in 1892; is practicing 
his profession in Nacogdoches, Texas. He is supervisor of 
the census for the Eighth district of Texas, which comprises 
seventeen counties of East Texas. He marrie,"" Allie Fall, 
of Chireno, on January 1, 1890; issue, one daughter, Winnie 
Davis, born February 23, 1891. 

VI. ELLIS, born November 27, 1868, at Chireno; gradu- 
ated from the Southwestern University in 1890, taking the 
A. B. degree; he was awarded the orator's medal in the junior 



148 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY 



class of twelve contestants; he failed to secure the same 
medal in his senior year by only one vote. He entered the 
East Texas Conference in 1891; was ordained deacon by 
Bishop Hargrove, and elder by Bishop Keener; is at present 
stationed at Nacogdoches, Texas, the home of his" two 
brothers, Dr. Smith and the lawyer, Mr. E. W. Smith. He 
married Pattie Mettaner (born July 17, 1869), on December 
24, 1890; they had issue, three sons and one daughter: 1, 
Herbert Ellis, born April 15, 1892; 2, Holland Mettaner, 
born December 12, 1893; 3, Mary, born April 10, 1896; 4, 
Ernest, born November 27, 1898. 

yil. CLAEENCE, born i;i Chireno on July 3, 1871 ; died 
April 24, 1887, at the age of sixteen, when a promising 
student of the Southwestern University. 

VIII. CLARA BELLE, born January 1, 1874; was mar- 
ried to John M. Weeks, her deceased sister Ruby's husband, 
on August 23, 1891. They had issue: 1, Bennett Hill, born 
September 12, 1893; 2, Ellis Chilton, born August 15, 1895; 
3, John McXeil, born March 1, 1898. They reside in Chi- 
reno, Texas. 

IX. Florence X., born Xovember 10, 1878 (she is called 
"Flossie"') ; was married to Kline P. Branch on April 5, 
1899, at the home of her brother. Dr. W. I. M. Smith, on 
Xorth Street, X^acogcloches, Texas. Her husband was born 
at Linn Flat, X^acogdoches County, on September 19, 1866. 
They reside in Xacogdoches, Texas. 

These descendants of the Rev. Littleton Fowler and his 
venerated wife should fill useful and noble places in life, and 
guard, as of more value than all things else, their Christian 
inheritance. They have descended from educated. Christian 
parentage, with heredity on the side of good. It is their holy 
duty to live up to the standard of their worthy forbears, 
which all of them now give promise of doing. 

XoTE.— Mrs. John D. Claybrook, Elvie (Smith) C. of 
Austin, Texas, has given me a sad little story to read of her 
grandmother Smith. Mrs. C. has an elder sister, Mrs. R. C. 
\Yalker, — called "Miss Patty'' by her intimates, — who lives 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 149 



in Austin, also. The story runs tliat about the year 1820, 
Ellen Peniston, of Petersbaig, Ya., engaged herself to two 
young men at the same time, in a spirit of harmless coquetry, 
but the two gentlemen took the matter seriously enough to 
fight a duel over it. They were named Adams and Boisseau, 
and the fatal encounter took place just back of the old 
Blandford church, in a pine grove now marked l)y the graves 
of the Hamilton family. The two former friends fell dead 
at the first shot, and the vain and thoughtless girl lived to 
mourn their hot-headed deed the rest of her life, which 
continued to a ripe age. Some time later she married Dr. 
Smith, a physician of Petersburg, and they moved to the 
wilds of Georgia and became the parents of nine sons, one of 
whom was Professor G. M. L. Smith of Nacogdoches County, 
Texas, and another was Mrs. C.'s father. Both Mrs. Clay- 
brook and Mrs. Walker are admirable women, possessing 
many graces of heart and much beauty of mind and person. 

LETTER OF EMMETT W. SMITH OF XACOGDOCHES, TEXAS. 

"August 2, 1899. — Mrs. Dora Fowler Arthur, Austin. — My 
Dear Cousin: Your favor of July 13th would have been 
answered before this had I not been absent from home. [He 
was in Xew York for medical treatment, his health having 
been bad for several years.] 

"I was born at Sexton, Sabine County, Texas, February 1. 
1866. [He is the third son of Mary Pitt (Fowler) Smith, 
who was the only daughter of the Eev. Littleton Fowler.] 
I graduated at the Southwestern University (a Methodist 
institution at Georgetown, Texas), in 1888, and took the 
degree of LL. B. in the law department of the University of 
Texas, 1892. I am at present supervisor of the Eighth 
Census District of Texas, which comprises seventeen coun- 
ties, in connection with my law practice in Nacogdoches. 

"I married Miss Allie Fall of Chireno, Nacogdoches 
County, Texas, January 1, 1890. We have one child, a 
daughter, Winnie Davis, born February 23, 1891. 

"I shall see other members of the family and get you such 



150 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



data as you want. Do you desire details as to every mem- 
ber living and deceased ? What time will the record be out ? 
We wish a number of copies. When will you publish your 
'Life of the Eev. Littleton Fowler?' We will take several 
copies of that also. 

^'Bishop C. 11. Fowler, of the M. E. Church, told brother 
Ellis (a Methodist minister) that a Boston house had pub- 
lished a history of the Fowler family in which mention is 
made of your father and my grandfather. Ellis has been 
writing to get it, but has been unsuccessful so far. It would 
be of some aid to you in your line of work, I dare say. 

''There is a short but very instructive history of Littleton 
Fowler in Johnson's Encyclopedia of Universal Knowledge. 

'T greatly admire your industry and family pride in your 
enterprise and wish you the greatest success. I shall be glad 
to render you any service in ]ny power. Your cousin, 

"E. W. Smith." 

LITTLETOX MORRIS FOWLER^ OF TEXAS^ 

The only son of LITTLETOX FOWLEE THE FIRST, 

was born October 15, 1844, San Augustine, Republic of ) 

Texas; educated at Texas schools and McKenzie College, I 

Clarksville, Texas; served in the Confederate army through- * 

out the Civil War; married Augusta Isabella Lynch, of 

Louisiana, April 18, 1865. Issue, six daughters and two 

sons : 

I. MARY BELLE, born June 10, 1866; educated at 
Texas schools and was graduated from Alexander Institute, 
Kilgore, Texas; married July 1, 1891, to Jack C. Howard^ 
of Longview, Texas. Issue, three daughters and one son : 1, 
GLADYS, born December 7, 1892; 2, TESSIE, born Sep- 
tember 14, 1894; 3, YAN'ITA,- born August 8, 1896; 4, 
FOWLER SAYERS, born August 21, 1898. 

II. ROSA LEE, born July 12, 1867; died May 5, 1868. 

III. LITTLETON AUGUSTE, born March 21, 1869; 
married Clota Mowghon, March 9, 1898. First born, Clota 
Isabel, born Xovember 25, 1899. 



^^ 



HI 

■J 





MRS. GINSEY COSBY (FOWLEK) TAYLOR, SAN JOSE, CAL. 2. JOHN LITTLETON 
FOWLER, PARIS. TEXAS. 3. JOSEPH HENRY FOWLER, PADUCAH. KY. 
4. REV. LITTLETON MORRIS FOWLER, TEXAS. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 151 



IV. CANNIE LYNCH (Canning), born July 24, 1870; 
educated at Alexander Institute; married to James Thomas 

BuTTraLL, March 3, 1892; he died . Issue, one son, 

EAYFOED EEMBEET, born July 22, 1893. She married 
(second time) Dr. Andrew Jackson Gkay, October 7, 1897. 
Issue, one daughter, CANNIE, born May 23, 1899. 

V. FANNIE MISSOUEJ, born May 28, 1872; educated 
at Alexander Institute; married Eev. David Lott Cain^ a 
Methodist minister, November 9, 1897. Issue, one son, 
WESLEY MAEYIN, born August 8, 1899, Henderson, 
Texas. 

VI. SALLIE, born April 10, 1874; educated at Alexan- 
der Institute; married to Harry Lovelace, February 16, 
1899, Palestine, Texas. First born, Harry,^ December 4, 
1900. 

VII. ETHEL, born August 6, 1875 ; educated at Alexan- 
der Institute; married to William F. Woodward, February 
16, 1899, Palestine, Texas. First born, Isabel, born Novem- 
ber 25, 1899. 

VIII. GILBEET SMITH, born July 16, 1877. 
Augusta Isabella (Lynch) Fowler, died December 14, 

1879. 

LITTLETON MOEEIS FOWLEE married a second 
time — Eegina Anne AYalker — February 2, 1881; she was 
born March 1, 1855. Issue, one son and one daughter: 

I. WESLEY MAEVIN, born December 16, 1881, Jack- 
sonville, Texas; died December 26, 1882. 

II. LAUEA, born February 26, 1887. 

LITTLETO:?^ MORRIS FOWLER 

Is the only son of the Eev. Littleton Fowler and Missouri M. 
(born Lockwood), his wife. So much has already been said 
in these pages of the godly and distinguished parents of this 
only son, with the only daughter Mary, therefore individual 

^Harry Lovelace, Jr., died September, 1900, but a baby girl came 
to cheer the parents on February 5, 1901. She is named Ethel 
Fowler Lovelace. 



152 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

mention is all that is left for this running sketch. Littleton, 
Junior, and his lovely and beautiful sister, who was his 
senior, grew np in the ordinary environment of most Texas 
children between the years of 1840-1860, with the particu- 
larly fortunate exception of refined and religious home- 
training, which many other pioneer children had not, for 
the hardy and uncultured settlers predominated, according 
to the eternal fitness of things. The mother gave to her only 
two Fowler children, with her son, Symmes Porter, the son 
of a former marriage, the same rare training which she had 
received from a cultured and distinguished ancestr}^ while 
the father impressed on their budding minds what he 
esteemed of more value than all else, — the beautiful virtues 
taught by the gentle and loving Christ. 

In 1857 Littleton was placed in McKenzie College, a 
Methodist school in Clarksville, Red River Count}^ Texas, 
where he remained until the summer vacation of 1860. It 
is my impression that he and his cousin, John Littleton 
Fowler, the only son of Colonel John H. Fowler, formerly 
of that county, were classmates at that college, for I re- 
member a picture of the '"two Littletons'' taken together, 
during their college days. I had a brother, also a Littleton 
Fowler, who attended that same college, from which he ran 
away to go into the Confederate army with other boy 
soldiers. 

Littleton Morris Fowler, who, by the way, was named for 
his father's first presiding elder in Kentucky, who after- 
wards became Bishop Morris, enlisted in the Fourteenth 
Texas Cavalry, C. S. A., in ihe fall of 1862, in the company 
of Captain John L. Camp, serving through the remainder of 
the terrible conflict of arms under Generals Johnston, Bragg, 
and Hood, respectively. He fought in thirteen battles, 
among them Chickamauga, Gettysburg, and Jackson, Miss. 
The last mentioned was the last engagement that he partici- 
pated in. 

He married Miss Augusta Isabella Lynch — called "Belle'' 

)f Tuscaloosa, Ala., April 18, 1865. She was a lady of 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 153 

personal beauty and loveliness of character; also a descend- 
ant of the distinguished Canning family of England. They 
resided in Greene County, Alabama, seven years succeeding 
their marriage, and there were born his four oldest children, 
— Mary Belle, Rosa Lee, Littleton Auguste, and "Cannie" 
(Canning) Lynch Fowler. 

He returned to Texas in 1872 and took charge of his 
father's old home near Milam, Sabine County, where his 
good father had died. Finally, yielding to the continual 
prayers of his mother and his own religious convictions, he 
began to preach, joining the East Texas Conference in 1876. 
Now, for nearly a quarter of a century, he has been an 
earnest soldier of the cross, holding many important posi- 
tions in the gift of the Methodist church of Texas. He has 
served many years as curator of the Southwestern Univer- 
sity, and more than a decade as presiding elder of the East 
Texas Conference. 

On December 4, 1879, he lost the beloved wife of his 
youth, who left him four little daughters and two sons, 
Gilbert Smith Fowler being the sweet babe. The faithful 
mother of the bereaved husband united her efforts with his 
in rearing the little flock until the second marriage of Mr. 
Fowler, which occurred on February 2, 1881, to Miss Regina 
Walker, who was a neighbor and intimate friend of his first 
wife. She has borne him a son, Wesley Marvin, who died 
an infant, and a lovely daughter, Laura, who is dear to all 
the entire kindred for her many innate graces of person and 
disposition, together with a distinguishing love for books 
and music, — she is learning both the piano and violin. 

His wife Regina is truly n "mother in Israel,'' so devoted 
is she to the work of the church and to the poor and dis- 
tressed around her. She has been a perpetual benediction 
in his home, winning the love of her stepchildren as she does 
the hearts of all others who enjoy the privilege of association 
with her. 

On August 12, 1900, there appeared in the Sunday issue 
of the Houston (Texas) Post a write-up of the dedication 



154 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

services of the third church erected on the same site and 
named McMahan Chapeh Three portraits accompanied the 
sketch, one of the missionary who founded the church, one 
of his son, and another of his grandson. The facts given 
are about these: 

"Nacogdoches, Texas, August 9, 1900. — McMahan chapel 
is in Sabine County, Texas, twelve miles east of San 
Augustine. It was here that the first Protestant church of 
the Eepublic of Texas was organized and the second church 
building erected. The church organization was effected in 
1833, by William Stevenson, the first Methodist preacher to 
penetrate the wilds of Texas, and the house of worship was 
erected through the influence of the Rev. Littleton Fowler, 
who was one of the three first missionaries sent by 
the general Methodist churcli to the new Republic. The first 
McMahan Chapel was a primitive log building; this gave 
place to a better one in later years, and the present new and 
creditable church makes the third house of worship on the 
selfsame spot. The revered missionary, Littleton Fowler, 
was buried under the pulpit of the original log church, and 
the large marble slab, appropriately inscribed to his memory, 
forms a part of the pulpit, and is an humble tribute to a 
man so closely connected with the early history of Methodism 
in Texas, and who was an important agent in the best de- 
velopment of the State. His old home is only one mile from 
his beloved church. At the first Texas Conference he was 
made presiding elder of the San Augustine district. This 
old church was the scene of many stirring revivals in the 
early days, and the work and influence of the founder abides 
and endures. 

"Littleton M. Fowler is his only son, and he has served 
Texas twenty-five years as pastor and presiding elder in the 
Methodist church. Littleton Fowler Smith of Chireno and 
Ellis Smith, pastor of Nacogdoches Methodist church, are 
grandsons, being sons of the only daughter of the early 
missionary. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 155 

"On Sunday, July 28, the new chapel was the scene of a 
remarkable gathering of about one thousand people from 
Sabine, Shelby, and San Augustine counties. Eev. Littleton 
M. Fowler preached the dedicatory sermon, by special re- 
quest of the pastor in charge/^ 

Other facts were given in this communication, but as they 
have been given elsewhere, I cheerfully omit them. I also 
wish to correct an erroneous statement made concerning the 
portrait of the missionary. The facts as given to me by the 
son of the missionary are, in substance, the following: The 
only picture extant of Littleton Fowler, the elder, is a simple 
pencil profile made by a Mrs. Jones of Louisiana. She was 
the gifted mistress of an antebellum plantation in Caddo 
Parish. Mr. Fowler was her guest and she asked him to 
sit for his picture, which she made rapidly and easiW, but 
the ear was left unfinished. The drawing was made on the 
flyleaf of a book she happened to hold in her hand. She 
sent it to his wife years after, when Mr. Fowler died. The 
son mourned it as lost for many years, until he and I were 
going through his father's old papers together, when I hap- 
pened to find it, exclaiming, "What a quaint old picture I" 
little dreaming whose it was. Then he told me the foregoing 
facts, adding, also, the fact that his father had such thin 
hair he was compelled to wear a wig. 

In this connection I wish to say that the portrait of Colonel 
John H. Fowler of Paris, Texas, is very old looking, for the 
oil and varnish are badly cracked. It was done by Huddle, 
a Paris boy, who did also the portraits of the Governors of 
Texas, which hang in the Supreme Court library of the 
Texas Capitol. The oil portrait by the same artist and 
owned by Mrs. Peterson, of Paris, was better work, but it 
was burned with the Peterson Hotel of that city. The old 
portrait copied in the record belongs to the widow and 
daughters of John Littleton Fowler, the only son of Colonel 
Fowler. The picture of Judge A. J. Fowler, of Palestine, 
Texas, is a daguerreotype made of him al)0ut 1850, when he 



15C ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

was editor and owner of th'j Palestine American, a Know- 
Nothing paper. 

The daughters of the Eev. L. M. Fowler are comely 
enough, Mrs. Gray ("Cannie"^) being particularly admired 
for her fine personal appearance. Fannie Missouri, — named 
for her dear old grandmother, which fact alone would seem 
to have brought a blessing with it, — was truly "cut out" for 
a preacher^s wife, which position she now occupies as the 
helpmeet of the young Methodist minister, the Rev. D. L. 
Cain. She is one of the gentlest and loveliest of women. 

Following are extracts from the newsj)aper account of the 
double wedding of the two daughters Sallie and Ethel, who 
came near being twins in age as they are in loving devotion 
to each other : 

A DOUBLE WEDDING. 

"Palestine, Texas, February 16, 1899. — More merrily than 
over rang the wedding bells on Thursday eve, because they 
pealed a double happiness. At 8 o'clock on Thursday even- 
ing, at the Methodist church. Mr. Harry Lovelace and Miss 
Sallie Fowler, and "Sir. Will Woodward and Miss Ethel 
Fowler, were uuited in the holy bonds of matrimony. The 
church was beautifully decorated in smilax and white chrys- 
anthemums. Just in front of the altar stood a beautiful 
arch, with a smaller arch nearer the end of each aisle, from 
which depended large double hearts containing the letters 
H. and S. in one, W. and E. in the other; while from the 
center of the main arch swung a beautiful marriage bell 
made of smilax and white chrysanthemums. 

"Promptly at 8:30 o'clock Miss Retha Wagner, who pre- 
sided at the organ, awoke the strains of Mendelssohn's Wed- 
ding March; the bridal party entered the church, with the 
ushers on the right, Messrs. Walter Woodson and Yancy 
Jones, those on the left being Messrs. Young and Matthews. 
These were followed by Iomy little cushion-bearers. Master 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 157 

Spencer and little Miss Grace Jewel Link, and Master Davis 
and little Miss Gladys Howard.* 

''Mr. Lovelace and Miss Sallie Fowler entered the right 
aisle and Mr. Woodward and Miss Ethel Fowler entered the 
left one, both couples meeting at the altar. As the sounds 
of the wedding march died away, and soft flute-like notes 
alone were heard. Dr. Alexander uttered the ceremony and 
heard the vows of Mr. Lovelace and bride; then the Rev. 
Goclbey pronounced the words which united Mr. Woodv\^ard 
and Miss Ethel. Beautiful and impressive was the scene as 
the two couples knelt to receive the blessings of the min- 
isters. 

"The bridal party, with a few visiting relatives and the 
'As You Like It Club,' of which the brides were members, 
repaired to the home of the brides' parents, where dainty 
refreshments were served and a delightful evening spent. 
=:: * * rj^YjQ cutting of an old-fashioned bride-cake af- 
forded much amusement to the younger guests. * * * 
We join with their host of friends in wishing them God's 
richest blessings. May no sorrow darken the sunshine of 
their lives, and may their life-boats sail gently o'er Time's 
great ocean, until anchored at last on Eternity's shore. 

"Relatives of the brides who attended the wedding from 
a distance were Mesdames Jack Howard and Littleton A. 
Fowler and Mr. Gilbert Fowler." 

The many bridal present were both useful and beautiful. 
The exquisitely dainty bridal robes were made by the skillful 
fingers of the expectant brides, and I proudly testify that 
they are worthy of being kept for posterity, for the beautiful 
tucking and fairy frills of "baby" ribbon on the cobwebby 
organdie made an artistic creation that any girl should be 
proud of accomplishing; for artistic conception, with skill 
to execute, is a gift which money can not buy; and money 
always seems such a scarce commodity in the homes of God's 
ministers, and with the gifted of this world also. 

*The last mentioned is a niece of the bride's, a winsome, golden- 
luiived darling of wonderfully attractive manners. 



CHAPTEE VIII. 

''Do thy clut}.. that is best; 
Leave unto thy Lord the rest." 

DESCENDANTS OF POLLY ANN (FOWLEll) AND THOMAS B. WIL- 
SON^ OF TRIGG COUNTY^ KENTUCKY. 

POLLY ANX FOWLEii ^\-as the only daughter of 
GODFREY FOWLEK, 3\l., and HIS WIFE, CLARA 
(WRIGHT) FOWLER, and she was born at the old Fowler 
homestead near Princeton, Caldwell County, Kentucky, 
April ;;i3, 181-i; was married to Thomas B. Wilson, of Trigg 
County, December 2, 1830. Mr. Wilson's father came from 
South Carolina in 1815; he owned many slaves and was a 
man of considerable wealth. Thomas and Polly Ann had 
five sons and one daughter: 

L WILLIAM ALGERNON, born August 19, 1832; 
married Cyntha Ann Young, June 19, 1859, and became the 
father of five sons and two ilaughters: 1, William Walter, 
born May 13, 1860; unmarried. 2, Xannie Elizabeth, born 
May 11, 1862; married to William Tandy Wadlington, No- 
vember 3, 1881 ; their children : Lurline Marion, Raymond 
Brown, Rhoda Rheda, Mary Ella, Tandy, Jr. 3, George 
Wharton, born June 30, 1864; married Carrie Cox, January 
13, 1892, and had issue, Allx-rt AV., Xannie May. 4, Frank 
Ogburn, born December 25, 1866; married Ora Cox, Feb- 
ruary 15, 1894, and has one child, Lelia. 5, Emma Chappell, 
born January 23, 1868; married to Harry Clark, January 
15, 1886, and had issue, Wilson Gordon, Xannie Elizabeth, 
Cyntha Ann, William Tandy, Kate. 6, Wiley Parks, born 
December 4, 1872; married Emma Crenshaw, December 4, 
1894; had a daughter, Emma Crenshaw. 7, Harry Little- 
ton, born December 31, 1874; married Katie Crune, January, 
1896.1 

^This information was given by Wiley Cyrus Wilson, who copied 
it from his father's Bible. Mrs. Mattie Chappell, of Cadiz, sent 
additional data. 




1. WILEY CYRUS WILSON, BUSSELLVILLE, KY. 2. MRS. MATTIE (WILSON) CHAP- 
mJri'' ^^^/^' K^- ^- MRS. BELLA (FOWLER) ARTHUR. TEXARKANA 
TEXAS. 4. HENRY BASCUM FOWLER, PALESTINE, TEXAS. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 159 

A Hopkinsvilie paper, dated January 6, 1898, says: 
"Claude Wadlington, a son of a prominent planter, shot and 
instantly killed Parks Wilson at G-racy's store late this 
evening. Xeither of (he young men were drinking. * * * 
Wilson was one of the foremost young men of Christian 
County; he was a widower and leaves an infant daughter'^ — 
named for his dead girl-wife, Emma Crenshaw. 

II. GEORGE FOWLER, born November IT, 1834; mar- 
ried Belle Hopson, May 22, 1857; she was born July 25, 
1836, and died July 8, 187-1:. He died December 3, 1882. 
They had two sons and four daughters, namely: I. Clara 
Ann, born February 22, 1856; married to George Finis 
Weaks, November 25, 1880. He was born January 31, 1854. 
They had children : 1, Leonard Bonton, born January 10, 
1861; 2, George, born August 4, 1884; died January 23, 
1886. Clara x\nn (Wilson) Weaks, died April 24, 1886. 
(Her husband married Hattie E. Johnson, born July 28, 
1863, on December 18, 1888 ; she bore him four sons : Chester 
Roscoe, Cecil Adair, Harry Johnson, Gilbert Dodd, and died 
November 14, 1895, her two sons — first and third — surviving 
her.) II. Emanuel, born September 10, 1860; married Oc- 
tober 25, 1899, to Josephine McCormick. A clipping from 
an Evansville paper, sent me by Mrs. R. H. Woolfolk of 
San Antonio, Texas, a sister of the expectant groom, says: 
"Coming Nuptials.— On afternoon of October 25 [1899], 
at the home of the bride's mother, on Clarksville Street, 
Captain Ed. Wilson, the popular L. & N. conductor, will wed 
Miss Josie McCormick, youngest daughter of Mrs. Lizzie 
McCormick, and the Rev. U. G. Foote of the Methodist 
church will officiate. Miss Archie McCormick, sister of the 
bride, will be maid of honor. The wedding will be a quiet 
one, only a few special friends being invited. Immediately 
after the marriage the happy couple will leave for a trip 
through the West, after which they will be at home at 416 
Third Avenue, Evansville. The Progress in advance tosses 
a full bouquet of good wishes to them.'' Ill, Georgia 
Belle, born December 23, 1863; died February 4, 1865, 



160 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

IV, Rosa Olive, born February 9, 1868; died April 15, 1887. 

V, Thomas Byrox, boru Ma}- 4, 1870; died November 28, 
1893. VI, Penelope Belle ("Nelle"), born November 1,3, 
1872; married July 17, 1895, to Eieliard Harding Woolfolk 
of Paducah, Ky. ; he was born January 9, 1867. Children: 
Eobert Owen Wilson, born May 3, 1896; Mary Elizabeth, 
born October 11, 1898; Xelle Fowler, born 1900. They reside 
in San Antonio, Texas, for the benefit of Mr. Woolfolk's 
health. For further particulars of the family of George 
Fowler Wilson, see extracts from Wilson letters subjoined. 

III. JOSEPH BEADFOED, born December 1, 1836; 
died March 14, 1845. 

IV. CLAEA AXX, born August 20, 1839; died August 
27, 1851. 

V. THOMAS LlTTLEl^OX, born December 27, 1847; 
married Eleanor Eagan (formerly spelled Eeagan) March 
18, 1869. Their children: I, Mattie, born February 1, 
1870; married Charles A. Chappell, of Cadiz, Ky., June 
10, 1891; issue: Phil Edward, born ; Francis Jeffer- 
son, born May 20, 1898; Charles A., Jr., born June 22, 1899; 
died December 19, 1899. II, James Littleton, born No- 
vember 4, 1872; married Minnie Crane of St. Joseph, Mo., 
September 16, 1899. They at present reside in Seligman, 
Ariz. Eleanor (Eagan) Wilson died November 15, 1876. 
Thomas Littleton Wilson married Sudie Wharton, November 
25, 1879, and died May 18, ]880. C. A. Chappell and T. K. 
Torian are wholesale and retail grocers of Cadiz, Ky., com- 
posing the firm of Chappell & Torian. 

VI. WILEY CYEUS, born June 20, 1849; married Alice 
Darnell, September 29, 1875; died May 4, 1899, leaving wife 
and seven children. His wife, Alice Elizabeth (Darnell), 
was born January 17, 1855. Their children : 1, Ernest Dar- 
nell, born October 12, 1876; died ; 2, Cyrus Cline, 

born October 29, 1878; 3, Edna Browning, born January 9, 
1881; 4, Littleton Fowler, born April 30, 1883; 5, Kathleen, 
born January 30, 1886; 6, Louise, born December 14, 1888; 
7, Wiley Cyrus, born November 19, 1891; 8, Amanda Eliza- 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLEB FAMILY. 161 



beth, born October 28, 1894. Mrs. Wilson and children 
reside in Russellville, Ky., Vvith the exception of her eldest 
living son, CLINE WILSOX, who gives much comforting 
promise to his mother and kindred of a career of usefulness 
in his chosen profession of art. He says of himself : ""I left 
college before completing my senior year and came to New 
York in October, 1897; studied at the National Academy 
of Design during the seasons of '97-'98, and '98-''99. I 
studied also, for a time, under A. B. Wenzell, at Chase's 
Art School.'' He is giving invaluable assistance in the illus- 
tration of this "liecord,'' in sketching the old Fowler and 
Wilson homes as they appear in 1898, in ''Ole Kaintuck." 
His father was so proud of him, and his mother writes: 
''Cline is a good son; I wish you knew him.'' 

EXTRACTS FROM WILSON LETTERS. 

"Eussellville, Ky., October 19, 1897.— You may know I 
was only five years old when my mother died. I was sent off 
to school when my father married again, eight years later, 
where I remained until I was nineteen. * * * There 
is a picture of mother taken just before her death, which is 
in my opinion a very poor one, but it may have been con- 
sidered good for that time — 1854. * * * I am forty- 
eight years old; I have a lovely wife and seven interesting 
children, and I am proud of them. My oldest is a son, 
Cline; he is at an art school in New York City, and, while 
he is only nineteen years of age, he has some local reputation 
as an artist of promise. Your cousin, Wiley Cyrus Wil- 
son." 

"Kussellville, Ky., January 20, 1898. — You will see by the 
inclosed clipping what a deplorable affair has occurred among 
our relatives. Wiley Parks Wilson, the one who was shot 
and killed, was the fourth son of my oldest brother, William 
Algernon, and my namesake ; he was a handsome, gentle- 
manly little fellow. William's seven children all lived within 
a radius of a few miles of one another and all seemed to be 

11 — Fowler. 



162 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



prosperous farmers. Eeferring to my old home in Trigg 
County, the house was built in 1840, and is owned by Phil 
E. Kedd; it is still a nice old place. The old Fowler home- 
stead, built by Godfrey Fowler, is about four miles from 
Princeton, on the Fredonia road. I have seen the old place 
a few times. For further particulars of the Wilson family, 
write to Mrs. Chappell, Cadiz,— she is the daughter of 
Thomas Littleton Wilson. She is a pretty little woman, and 
as good as she is pretty. Write to Mrs. Richard Woolfolk, 
Paducah, for data of George Fowler Wilson's family. The 
data I send of my father's children are copied from father's 
old family Bible. You will see by the names recorded there 
that my mother did not forget her kindred. Your cousin, 
W. C. Wilson." [Wiley is for her brother, the late Judge 
Wiley Fowler, of Paducah, Ivy.] 

So few were the words of encouragement, not to mention 
letters, I am profoundly indebted to the following : 

"Cadiz, Ky., December 11, 1897. — Dear Unknown Cousin: 
Through my uncle, W. C. Wilson, and your letters forwarded 
me by him, I have learned of you and your great and noble 
undertaking; for this 1 write to congratulate, compliment, 
and — if possible — encourage you. Xo other member of the 
family ever ventured so much. 1 have so much family pride, 
and feel the more the more 1 know of my kindred. A book 
like the one you mention can not be over valued. All my 
near relatives whom I know are honorable, religious, pros- 
perous people. My husband has a family record which is 
traced back as far as 1635. We have a son, Phil E. [another 
since the date of this letter], who, we hope, will appreciate 
the histories of both families, as all sensible persons should. 
My husband's family, the Chappells, were French Huguenots, 
and his mother is a descendant of Thomas Jefferson of Vir- 
ginia. His father was president of the Cadiz bank from the 
time of its organization until his death, two years ago. My 
husband, Charles A. Chappell, is the handsomest man in all 
Kentucky ! My brother, James Littleton, is my only near 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 163 

relative living. He is not married.- Cousinly yours, Mattie 
W. Chappell.-'- 

"Eussellville, Ky., August 19, 1898.— Dear Cousin: After 
reading your letter to my father I at once became very much 
interested in our family history; up to your writing I had 
known nothing of my Fowler kinsfolk. My mother belongs 
to the Randolph family of A^irginia, which is very well 
known. Mother and I are planning a trip this summer 
through Trigg and Caldwell counties, when I shall make a 
sketch of the old Fowler house, which is a ruin, but no doubt 
will prove of interest to you and other descendants of God- 
frey Fowler, the founder. Your cousin, Cline Wilson.'^ 

"Russellville, Ky., September 28, 1898. — My mother and 
I have taken the contemplated trip through the country, 
visiting all of the old family homes, and none was more 
enjoyed than the old Fowler homestead, near Princeton. An 
old woman living there took great pleasure in telling me all 
she knew about the old house, its ghost stories — for the house 
is haunted, — and the neighborhood traditions. She showed 
me all over the house, even up in the garret, calling my 
attention to the handwrought nails in the door made by 
Godfrey Fowler himself; also to the same old steps said to 
have been made by him, and the old well which he dug. Of 
course I took a drink from the old 'moss-covered bucket that 
hung in the well.^ Perhaps it was mostly sentiment, but I 
thought it the best water 1 ever drank. The old family 
burying ground is all grown up in trees. I went round in 
the back yard and made a sketch of the rear of the house. 
Hoping that you will like the sketches of both the Fowler 
and Wilson places, your cousin, Cline Wilson." 

I should like very much to know when the old Fowler 
homestead passed out of the possession of the family. My 
father was born there in 1815; Godfrey died there in 1816, 
and his widow died eight years later, after marrying 
again. 

-Married since. 



164 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

"Kussellville, Ky., May 10, 1899.— A few weeks since I 
wrote you that my father was very ill; his sickness is all 
over now; he died May 4th, in St. Joseph's Infirmary, Louis- 
ville. A few days before he grew so much worse that we 
took him there, under the advice of our family physician. 
He was a good father and a fine business man; he is a loss 
not only to his family but to his town as well. I hope to be 
able to finish the drawings (the Fowler and Wilson homes) 
begun last summer, during this. Your cousin, Cline Wil- 
son.^' 

From the Cadiz Telephone : ''Mr. Cyrus Wilson, who was 
once a prominent citizen of Princeton, died in Louisville, 
May 4, 1899, after a long illness. His home has been for 
several years in Eussellville ; he had gone to Louisville for 
medical treatment. Mr. Wilson was a man who had a big 
heart, and to know him was only to like him. When he 
lived here he wa.< in the fiouring-mill business, continuing the 
same business in Eussellville. He numbered his friends here 
by the score. He leaves a wife and several children, two of 
whom received their early education here and are well 
remembered by many of us.'" 

Extracts from a letter froiu Cline Wilson: "'Eussellville, 
Ky., July 31, 1899. — My Dear Cousin : I send you two 
clippings, one from our local paper and one from the Cadiz 
Telephone. There were several notices of father's death in 
the Louisville papers which 1, under the circumstances, failed 
to save. 

"In answer to your question regarding my mother's family, 
she is descended from William Eandolph. * * * j j^^^g 
made two of the illustrations for our family book; I made 
them before I left Xew York. Since I have been home I 
have made only one drawing — a design for the book cover. I 
hope to make the other drawings for you before the summer 
is gone. * * * I do not think I shall go back to New 
York this year; it seems my duty to remain at home and 
go in business. Your cousin, Cline Wilson." 



ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 165 



From a Eussellville paper: "Wiley Cyrus Wilson died 
yesterday evening at 7 o'clock at St. Joseph's Infirmary, in 
Louisville, Ivy. His remains arrived in Eussellville this 
morning and will be buried at Maple Grove to-morrow morn- 
ing, after services at his home at 10 o'clock, to be conducted 
by the Rev. H. C. Settle. Mr. Wilson had been in the 
infirmary since Sunday; the immediate cause of his death 
was pneumonia, but he had been sick here at his home about 
six weeks before he went to Louisville. * * * He was 
the owner of the Knob City flour mills, and was one of the 
foremost citizens of our town and State. He was born in 
Trigg County in 1849, and married Miss Alice Darnell, of 
Cadiz, in 1875. He moved to Rnssellville in 1891. His wife 
and seven children survive him: Cline, Edna, Littleton, 
Kathleen, Louise, Cyrus, Jr., and Amanda. W. C. Wilson 
was a successful business man, and, being a man of fine 
character, with noble and generous impulses, he was highly 
esteemed and respected by all who knew him." 

VII. JAMES HENRY WILSON, born June 15, 1854; 
died April 29, 1858. He was the seventh child and youngest 
born of Polly Ann (Fowler) and T. JB. Wilson. Polly Ann, 
the mother, died that year; lier husband married again eight 
years after, but I have no information of later children or 
of the date of his death. Maple Grove must be near the 
old Wilson homestead in Trigg County, and its cemetery 
presumably holds the Wilson dead. 

Extract from a letter by Mrs. R. H. Woolfolk of San 
Antonio, Texas: "My father (George Fowler Wilson) owned 
a very large stock farm — 'the Wilson place' — in Graves 
County, Kentucky, where he raised thoroughbred horses and 
other fine stock. He was colonel of a regim.ent in the Con- 
federate army. I was kept in school in Nashville for six 
years, and was graduated from St. Cecilia Academy there, 
and I am a Catholic. My sister Clara married, lived, and 
died in Water Valley, Graves County, Kentucky, and my 



106 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



sister Rosa died there also. My brother Thomas died in St. 
Louis, of pneumonia. 'Ed' (Emanuel) and I are the only 
ones living. Affectionately vour cousin, Xelle Wilson Wool- 
folk.^' 



r 




» . ■ ' ' -'—. .■^■^ iTA^ A'l'-A / :, . 



,.~--.i.i.;.i- 









HOME OF THOMAS B. MIJLSON, TKIGG COUNTY, KENTUCKY, 1346. 



CHAPTEK IX. 

''I will try this day to live a simple, sincere, serene life; repelling 
every thought of discontent, self-seeking, and anxiety ; cultivating 
magnanimity, self-control, and the habit of silence; practicing 
economy, cheerfulness, and helpfulness. 

"And as I can not in my own strength do this, or even with a 
hope of success attempt it, I look to Thee, Lord my Father, in 
Jesus Christ my Savior, and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit. — 
[Bishop Vincent. 

DESCENDANTS OF ANDREW JACKSON FOWLER^ OF TEXAS, AND 
MARTHA SUSAN ( GLENN), HIS WIFE. 

He was the seventh son and youngest born child of 
GODFREY FOWLER, JR., and CLARA (WRIGHT) 
FOWLER, his wife; he was born at the old pioneer home- 
stead near Princeton, Caldwell County, Kentucky, on No- 
vember 11, 1815, and was named for the man who had become 
the American hero, but who was an old friend and neighbor 
also of Godfrey Fowler, Jr. He graduated at La Grange 
College, Alabama, an eminent Methodist institution, the 
year of his majority (1836). He studied law with his 
brother. Judge W. P. Fowler, of Princeton. He came to 
Texas the same year his missionary brother, the Rev. Little- 
ton Fowler, came (1837), and settled at Clarksville, Red 
River County, near his brothers, Colonel John H., and Brad- 
ford, the latter and himself practicing law in that part of 
the Republic. On February 10, 1841, he married Martha 
Susan Glenn, a daughter of Captain Nathan Glenn and 
Mary — ^Tolly^' — Daniel (Fowler) Glenn. Martha was born 
in Prince Edward County, Virginia, near the Appomattox 
River and Farmville, on her father's farm, ^^Obsloe,'" on 
August 4, 1825. In 1841 A. J. Fowler represented the new 
county of Lamar in the House of the Congress of the Repub- 
lic; in the fall of the same year he commanded a company 
under General Tarrant in an Indian campaign of North 
Texas. He died in his seventieth year at his home in Lin- 



168 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

dale, Smith County, on March 31, 1885. To him were born 
nine children : 

I. CLARA DANIEL, born November 1, 18-11, near the 
present town of Paris, Lamar County, Republic of Texas; 
she AA^as educated and studied music in Palestine, Texas; she 
was married to Dr. William Washington Manning on De- 
cember 19, 1871. He was born September 22, 1820, Monroe, 
La., and graduated in the school of medicine in Tulane 
University in ; he was a physician, druggist, and mer- 
chant of Angelina County for many years; he founded the 
old county seat and named it for Homer, in his native State. 
He died in Lufkin, Angelina County, January 21, 1897, 
leaving a widow and four children of his last marriage: 1, 
William W., Jr., born July 31, 1873, at Homer, Texas; he 
is a fine business man, the comforting strong arm for his 
mother to lean on; he is unmarried. 2, Clara, born April 
25, 1875 ; she was married to Will T. Pittman, Lufkin, 
Texas, November 29, 1894; their issue is two sons, Willie 
Manning and Eugene Lindsey. 3, Fowler, born May 6, 1879, 
at Homer; he chose the profession of pharmacy, as he grew 
up, so to speak, in his fathers drugstore. 4, Joseph, born 
July 12, 1884, Homer, Texas. 

II. NATHAN GODFREY, born at loni (the site of an 
old loni Indian village), in Anderson County, Republic of 
Texas, January 15, 1844. He enlisted in the Confederate 
army when he was about eighteen years of age, serving first 
in the Fourth Texas Cavalry, First Regiment, Sibley^s 
Brigade, Colonel Riley, Captain J. W. Gardner; battles en- 
gaged in: Val Yerde and Glorietta. Fifth Texas Cavalry, 
Second Regiment, Colonel Tom Green, Captain J. W. Tay- 
lor; battles fought: Galveston, Bisland, Franklin, Yer- 
millionville. Carrion Crow, Mansfield, Pleasant' Hill, Blair's 
Landing, Monette's Ferry, Marksville, Yellow Bayou, Ber- 
wick Bay, Donelsonville, and many others; last commanders 
were Colonel Steele and Captain C. C. Horn. Of the original 
company — Company I, Seventh Texas, Third Regiment — 
only about seventeen lived through the many sanguinary 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 169 

engagemeBts. He lives at Lindale, Texas, with his aged 
mother and bachelor brother, or brother-bachelor, Little- 
ton. 

III. LITTLETON", born at San Angnstine, Texas, July 
15, 1846, when his father taught in the Wesley an College, 
a Methodist institution of that old Texas town. Littleton 
could have finished his education at McKenzie College had 
he not left college to join the ranks of Texas boy-soldiers 
in the Confederate army, when he was about seventeen years 
old. He is unmarried, and resides with his mother and 
brother at Lindale, Texas. His war career was short and 
bloodless, but sufficed to end his college studies. He joined 
Company A, Second Texas Cavalry, 1864, which disbanded in 
San Antonio, June 8, 1865. He was the handsome member 
of his father's large family. 

IV. HENEY BASCOM, born September 23, 1848, Pales- 
tine, Texas, when his father was a leading lawyer of that 
section — East Texas. His last school-days were war-days; 
when a young boy just in his teens he was the head of the 
family, his father and two older brothers being in the pro- 
longed conflict. He went to Kentucky at the end of the 
war to seek his fortune, when about sixteen; he clerked sev- 
eral years in the store of the lamented Mr. Leech, the father 
of Mrs. Martha E. (Leech) Fowler, wife of Captain J. H. 
Fowler of Paducah. Henry clerked also on Ohio Rivef 
packets, and returned to Texas — without his fortune — in 
1869. He engaged in the steamboat business on the Trinity 
Eiver during the few brief years of its navigation, the Belle 
of Texas and the Ida Rees being the boats he was connected 
witU. He married. May 12, 1875, at Palestine, Edwina 
Nelms Reagan, daughter of the Hon. John Henninger 
Reagan, the Texas statesman, and Edwina (Nelms) Reagan, 
his wife. Two children were born to them : 1, Godfrey 
Rees, born January 2, 1876; graduated at Palestine high 
school, June, 1891; graduated at the Texas Agricultural and 
Mechanical College, in the department of civil engineering, 
in 1894; he later took the degree of B. L. L. in the law 



170 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

department of the Texas University, in 1897; he then went 
to Palestine to begin the practice of his profession; soon 
war was declared with Spain, and he was appointed b}- Gov- 
ernor Culberson quartermaster of the Second Regiment, 
Texas Volunteers, but was later elected captain of Company 
G, Second Texas, Colonel Oppenheimer, and w^as stationed 
at Mobile, Miami, and Jacksonville. In 1899 he was com- 
missioned by President McKinley captain of Company F, 
Thirty-third Eegiment, U. S. V., Colonel Hare, and is now 
in the Philippines, much to the regret of all concerned. 2, 
Edwina licagan, born April 11, 1880, Palestine; she and her 
brother were reared by their fathers sister, Dora, and her 
husband, Mr. J. J. Arthur. She was educated in the public 
schools of Austin, with the exception of one year with the 
Misses Carrington, Austin. Her mother died a few days 
succeeding tlie birth of her daughter, April 13, 1880, at 
Palestine; her father died November 9, 1884, at Lindale, 
Texas, and they both lie in the Fowler and Arthur lot. East 
Hill cemeter}^, Palestine, Texas. 

V. MARY VIRGINIA, born January 2b, 185'>, Palestine, 
Texas; she was educated in Wadeville, Navarro County, 
where her father taught school just prior to the w^ar between 
the North and South, and w^here he left his family and few 
slaves when he and his eldest son, Nathan, joined the Con- 
federate army. "Mollie'" was married to Henry Clay War- 
ren^ November IJ:, 1872, Wadeville. He is a descendant of 
the Warren and Knox families of New^ England, and was 
born in Georgia on March 6, 1847. Children, five daughters : 
1, Elizabeth Glenn ("Daisy''), born December 10, 1873, 
Palestine ; her education was stopped while she w^as a student 
of the Texas University in 1893; she is now teaching in the 
Austin public schools; 2, Janie Farmer, born September 26, 
1875, Fincastle, Henderson County, Texas; was educated at 
the Austin high school and the Sam Houston Normal, Hunts- 
ville, Texas; is at present teaching in the Austin public 
schools; 3, Mary Andrew (called "Jack'' and "Jackie," 
for her grandfather Fowder), w^as born May 8, 1878, 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 171 



Homei-, Texas ; educated at the Austin high school ; is teach- 
ing in Angelina County at the present to pay her own 
expenses at our State University, which she expects to enter 
Januar}', 1900; 4, Clara Eeubenia ("Ruby") was born Feb- 
ruary 18, 1881, Homer, Texas; is attending the Austin high 
school; 5, Dora, born April 1, 1883, Homer; is in school in 
Austin, where the family resides. They are all girls of fine 
minds, and promise to make useful members of society. 
Daisy, Ruby, and Dora possess musical gifts and voices 
which they never had the means to cultivate. Janie is the 
most self-reliant, while Jackie is loved for her amiabihty of 
character. [Since the foregoing the family live in Brown- 
wood, Texas.] 

VI. WILLIE ANDREW— named for Judge Wiley P. 
Fowler and his own father — was born September 25, 1854, 
Palestine; died March 14, 1872, Palestine. He was taken 
seriously ill on a Trinity River steamboat — perhaps the Ida 
Rees — when returning from Galveston. When the boat 
landed at Magnolia his cousins in Palestine were informed; 
Miss Mollie McClure went to Magnolia and conveyed him 
to the McClure home, where she and her sister Georgia 
tenderly nursed him. His mother reached him before he died, 
when he was laid to rest in the McClure family lot in the old 
cemetery, Palestine. 

VII. GLENjSTDORA, bor]J July 1, 1858, Palestine; went 
to school in Wadeville and Palestine; she began teaching 
school when seventeen and taught four years, a short time 
at Homer and Elkhart — the latter near Palestine — and two 
years at Lindale, Smith County, where she met James Joyce 
Arthur, a druggist of the village, to whom she was married 
at her father's home in Elkhart on November 26, 1879. He 
is the youngest son and thirteenth child of Thomas Rhodes 
Arthur and Rachel (Loftin) who were Scotch-Irish settlers 
of Virginia. He was born on his father's plantation near 
Minden, La., on December 29, 1855, and is the possessor of a 
fine commercial education. He was freight agent at Pales- 
tine for the International & Great Northern Railroad, which 



172 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

office he resigned to accept the secretaryship of the Texas 
Railroad Commission on its organization in 1891, in Austin, 
which office he at present fills. jSTo children were born to 
them, Imt they filled their home with the two orphans of 
Henry B. Fowler and three of the Warren nieces, Daisy, 
Janie, and Jackie, successively. They celebrate their twen- 
tieth marriage anniversary alone this November, their first 
one alone, as their niece Edwina is absent at the home of her 
grandmother Fowler, in Lindale, Texas (1899).^ 

VIII. THOMAS MARSHALL— named for his mother's 
two brothers — was born October 2, 1860, at Science Hill, 
Henderson County, Texas, when his father was president of 
the Science Hill Academy; he died September 11, 1863, at 
Wadeville, Navarro County, and was buried in the old Rush 
Oreek Baptist church-yard, now near the present town of 
Kerens. The church is gone, the burying-ground is a tangle- 
wood, and even the site of the village of Wadeville is a cotton 
plantation. 

IX. FRANK BENTON, born October 15, 1864, Wade- 
ville, Texas, was educated in Palestine and was graduated 
from West Point Military Academy, New York, in the class 
of 1886, when he was commissioned second lieutenant of the 
Fourth Cavalry, U. S. A., Arizona Territory ; he resigned his 
commission in 1888, and later returned to Texas; he married 
Sarah Colver, of Homer, Texas, on August 14, 1893; no 
children were born to them. He lives in Mexico, following 
the profession of civil engineer of mines. He is gifted in 
music, art, and literature. 

Subjoined is an old land certificate bearing the name of 
my father and his two cousins: ^'Republic of Texas, Red 
River County. No. 232, 2nd Class, 640 acres. This is to 
certify that William L. Fowder is entitled to a conditional 
Headright of six hundred and forty acres of land agreeable 
to the provisions of the act passed January 4, 1839, extend- 

"Since then Mr. Arthur has been tmee promoted in the Texas 
Railroad Commission service. He is now (1901) expert rate clerk, 
filling the place of Mr. True, who died December, 1900. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 173 

ing donations of land to late emigrants. Given under our 
hands, this 6th day of December, 1839. A. J. Fowler, Chf. 
Justice, Eed Eiver County, Exoff. P. B. L. (President Board 
Land) Commissioners, A. H. Salms (?), Asso. Do., William 
Wheat, Do. Test: T. G. Wright, Clk. Co. Court, Eed Eiver 
County, Exoff. Clk. B. L. Coms.^^ 

The Wright here signed was Travis G., who was a member 
of the Texas Congress which held at old Columbia, 1837. - 

A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF AN OLD TEXAS FAMILY. 

[From the Intelligencer, Dallas, Texas, about 1873. Found also in 
the old family scrap-book.] 

"The name of Fowler is extensively associated with the 
early history of Texas. Colonel John H. Fowler emigrated 
to this country in 1817, settling at Pecan Point on Eed 
Eiver, in the present bounds of Eed Eiver County in this 
State. He was connected with the early organization of the 
Eepublic of Texas, serving a session in her Congress (1838) ; 
he now lives an honored citizen of Paris, Lamar County. He 
and his two cousins, Travis G. and George W. Wright, who 
came in 18 IG, are among the oldest living Texans. Bradford 
C. Fowler came out from Kentucky in 1827, settling in the 
same section of the country, but in 1850 he removed to Cali- 
fornia, where he died. Eev. Littleton Fowler was one of the 
first three Methodist missionaries sent out to the Eepublic, 
arriving in 1837. His unremitting labors in establishing 
education and Christianity in Texas are profoundly appre- 
ciated by all old Texans living to-day. Yoakum makes 
honorable mention of his name in his history of Texas, in 
connection with the fact that he, Littleton Fowler, estab- 
lished the first Protestant church ever built in the Eepublic. 
He was the first chaplain of the Senate of the Texas Con- 
gresses of 1837-1838, the latter an extra session in the spring, 
and both held in Houston. He was a warm personal friend 
of General T. J. Eusk. 

"Judge A. J. Fowler, the youngest member of the family, 



174 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

graduated at La Grange College, Alabama, the foremost 
Methodist college of the South at that time (1836), and 
studied Jaw with his brother, Judge W. P. Fowler, in Prince- 
ton, Ivy., coming to Texas about the end of 183? and locating 
in Red Kiver County. He was present at the lirst court ever 
held in this county, when General E. II. Tarrant was pre- 
siding justice and W. C. Young was sheritl*. Judge Fowler 
was appointed chief justice of Eed River County in 1839. 
In 1841 he was elected and served as the representative of 
Lamar County in the Congress of the Republic. He filled 
the chair of professor of mathematics in the Wesleyan Col- 
lege of San Augustine, 18-15-181:6 ; his brother, Littleton 
Fowler, the missionary, founded this Methodist college. 
Judge Fowler served Henderson County as chief justice in 
its early stages of organization in 1848. He was appointed 
district attorney of the Ninth Judicial District, under Judge 
Bennett H. Martin, in 1849, the district then including the 
county of Denton, and he attended the first court — at Pink- 
neyville — in Denton County. He was a volunteer in several 
Indian campaigns in 1838-*39-'40-'41, being captain of a 
company under Brigadier-General E. H. Tarrant, in 1841, 
in an expedition through the Cross Timbers, near where the 
town of Denton now stands, by Fort Worth, up the Clear 
Fork, through the present site of Weatherford, to the Brazos 
River; English's block-house, the site of the town of Bon- 
ham, was the outpost of the Red River settlements then. 
He was the acquaintance and friend of Houston, Rusk, Hen- 
derson, Anderson, Van Zandt Kaufman, Collin McKinney, 
John B. Denton, Tarrant, Isaac Parker, Daniel Montague, 
and W. C. Young, each of whose names is honored by a 
county in the State. During all these years Judge Fowler 
has been esteemed for his education and talents, his stern 
integrity, and moral worth. 

^^It is because I have an intimate personal acquaintance 
with the judge and the Fowler family and know him to be 
deserving of remembrance for his aid to early Texas, that I 
say this much in behalf of one who has never been properly 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 175 

appreciated on account of his own shrinking modesty; he is 
eminently entitled to honorable position from hundreds of 
those \^ho, by their self-assertion, now outrank him.'^ 

In the appendix to DuvaFs Early Times in Texas, in the 
list of men under the command of Colonel J, W. Fannin, 
1835-^36, occurs the name of Bradford Fowler, second ser- 
geant. Captain BuUock^s company. The original list, in the 
handwriting of Dr. Joseph Barnard, assistant surgeon of the 
division, is now deposited in the Historical Department at 
Austin, so says Mr. Duval. These were the men who fought 
in the battle of Encinal del Perdito, on March 9, 1836, under 
Colonel Fannin, and at the oattle of the Mission del Refugio, 
March 13, 1830, under Colonel William Ward, says Mr. 
Duval. 

AX OLD-TIME TEXAS WEDDIXG AT OLD FOIiT HOUSTOX^ 1841. 

Early in the year of our Lord 1840 a long emigrant train 
of white-covered wagons crossed Eed^ River and entered the 
Republic of Texas, in Red River County. Like the household 
of Jacob of old, the family of Patriarch Nathan Glenn con- 
sisted of a goodly number, including those of his daughters 
and their husbands, Mr. George Gresham and Mr. Alex. E. 
McClure, with many servants. Mr. Glenn had wandered 
several years since leaving his old Virginia home in the early 
thirties. Not by choice did he bid farewell to the dear ola 
home of his nativity, but by a hard and cruel circumstance 
in which he was an innocent participator. (See Sherwood 
Fowler and descendants.) 

He had tried to find another home similar to the old one, 
but unrest and discontent had entered his soul and he was 
still in quest of a place to rest in and call home. After 
leaving Virginia he had lingered a few years in the fair land 
of Tennessee; then one brief year in Mississippi, only to 
return to Tennessee. Still his Canaan beckoned him on 
until he, with his nearest of kindred, turned his face Texas- 



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176 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILJ. 

ward, thinking that country must indeed be fair where 
eternal summer reigned. 

When they reached a bord'^r county of the great Eepublic, 
rich in limitless fertile acres, they w^ere obliged to pause to 
rest and recuperate, after weeks and months of toilsome 
travel. They established their encampment near the old 
town of Clarksville. The settlers of that region visited them, 
helping the "movers'^ to pass the weary hours, and receiving 
in turn news of kindred in distant lands separated by every 
barrier that nature could seemingly interpose. Among the 
frequent visitors of the camp was the handsome young chief 
justice of Red Eiver County, Judge A, "Jack'' Fowler. It 
was soon divined by older heads that the daughter Martha, 
a very young maiden of fifteen summers, was the chief at- 
traction to the young Kentuckian, who proved to be both a 
gentleman and a scholar. In vain did he and Mrs. Glenn 
endeavor to discover ties of consanguinity in the name of 
Fowler, yet his interest in them never lessened. 

That part of the Eepublic was pleasant to contemplate, 
but the problem of fencing illimitable acres from the cattle 
on a thousand hills, as well as roving bands of Texas mus- 
tangs — wild Spanish ponies — had not then been solved by the 
late invention of barbed wire; so the emigrants again took 
up their weary journeyings toward southeast Texas, where 
the forests were exhaustless. At once the young justice 
decided he had important business in either of the old Span- 
ish mission towns of Nacogdoches or San Augustine. He 
proved an invaluable guide on horseback, for he had many 
times before made the long journey, which experience had 
made him quite an accomplished woodsman. 

At length the travel-worn emigrants arrived at a deserted 
cabin in the forests of Houston County, several miles from 
the old fort of Houston. By this time — in the early spring — 
they all, both white and black, had fallen victims to Texas 
malaria and were down with fevers and agues, therefore 
could proceed no further. Fort Houston was a blockhouse 
with a few rude cabins clustered about it, which were occu- 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 177 

pied by a few families of the liardiest pioneers who had 
escaped the tomahawk and the fever. 

Mr. Fowler proceeded to the fort and reported the sick 
and helpless condition of the family of emigrants, when the 
kind-hearted settlers went immediately to help the unfortu- 
nate newcomers on their v>ay to the protection of the fort. 
There the only available house for the occupancy of the 
Glenns was a log cabin aboui one mile west of the fort and 
settlement, known as the Campbell place, which had been 
the scene of a horrible IndicUi butchery the preceding Feb- 
ruary. The sad story is but a repetition of pioneer tales, 
but as it adds interest to my narrative, I digress to give it. 

In 1837 an emigrant from "the States'^ had settled one 
mile from the fort, in a spirit of foolhardiness, or daring, 
for the forests of the Trinity Kiver were infested with merci- 
less Indians. But Campbell and his grown son cleared them- 
selves a cornfield and lived v/ith the wife and mother and a 
large family of children, without serious event until the 
death of Mr. Campbell in February of 1839. A week after 
this calamity, one bright moonlight night the family were 
alarmed by their horse galloping up to the cabin; directly 
the Indians announced themselves by the jingling of many 
small bells worn on their leggings. The mother at once 
made preparation to aid her son in the defense of her 
children. She lifted one of the puncheons of the rude floor, 
directing her grown daughter to take the babe under the 
house. The Indians were by that time trying to force the 
cabin door. Mrs. C. then made several ineffectual attempts 
to fire an old flint-lock gun; at length, in desperation, she 
seized a brand from the fireplace and applied it to the lock, 
but the enemy had forced the strong door, and the brave 
mother was the first felled by the tomahawk. The grown 
son died by her side and the little children were cruelly 
slaughtered. The burning brand on the floor was left to 
complete the work, but after charring a large area of the 
little room it went out. The daughter and babe escaped to 
Fort Houston under cover of the forest. 

12 — Fowler. 



178 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



Into this loiiL'l}- cabin, witli its gruesome associations, the 
sick family must perforce go for other shelter than canvas — 
top of wagon or tent. fSome died, and many of the servants 
also. There they lingered until the February of 18-11, when 
a wedding occurred. In preparation for this event Captain 
Glenn sent several of his trusty negroes to Austin's colony 
on the Brazos for hogs and other supplies. The latter were 
packed on mules, whik' the .>-wine were driven on foot over 
Indian trails and the old 8an Antonio trace, (ireat was the 
rejoicing of the family and their neighbors at the fort when 
the wedding supper inchulid such delicacies as "fatty- 
bread,-' "shore-'nough" colt'ee, and hog-meat. Many of them 
had lived months on game without bread, for the s([uirrels 
ate u}) the small quantity of corn raised the summer 
Ixfore. 

The 10th of February, 1841, was so bitterly cold that the 
expected bridegroom was nearly frozen when he reached the 
festal scene. You have divined already that he was the 
young Kentuckian mentioned Ijefore. He had traveled on 
horseback from Clarksville to Austin, the new capital of the 
Kepublic, to deliver his saddlebags full of money to the 
treasury of Texas. Thence he had ridden to Crockett, the 
seat of justice of Houston County, for his marriage license, 
which was issued by County Clerk John Collins, M. U. 
When he reached the Glenn home his ]\lexican blanket was 
frozen around him by the rain freezing as it fell. He had to 
be liberated from his icy armor and bodily lifted from his 
saddle, — in this land of reputed ''eternal summer/' 

Martha, the bride of sixteen, — no, not quite, — was arrayed 
in a handsome silk, a relic of old-time Virginia splendor, and 
she and the groom stood on the charred spot made in the 
floor under such tragic circumstances just two years pre- 
viously to the month. Well, they were wed, and merrily went 
the marriage feast. I wish I could end this story as the 
stories of my childhood always ended, — ''and they lived 
happy ever afterwards," — but truth compels me to say that 
they lived devoted to each other through forty-four years of 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 179 

rain, storm, and fair weatlier, rearing eigiit children to 
maturity. Then the priest of their home-temple lay down 
his hnrdens of life's sorrows to pass to the better life beyond, 
while his girl-bride of fifty-eight Februarys gone by lives to 
tell with trembling voice and tear-dimmed eyes this story of 
an old-time Texas wedding.'* 

These two old documents will serve to introduce the writer 
of the letter following: "Augusta College, December 18, 
1834. — This is to certify that the Bearer, Andrew J. Fowler, 
has been a Student of this Institution about three years, 
being now a regular member of the Junior Class. His atten- 
tion to study has been unremitting, and his moral conduct 
exemplary; so that he has ever possessed, not only the affec- 
tions of his fellow students, but the esteem of his Instruc- 
tors. He leaves us, by the desire of some friends, to prose- 
cute his studies elsewhere. We give him his dismission with 
regret, and cordially commend him to those who may have 
the future direction of his education. J. H. Fielding." 

"June. 9, 1836, A. D.— We do hereby certify that the 
bearer, Mr. Andrew J. Fowler, has been one of the first and 
most useful members of the Lafayette Society of La Grange 
College. Having graduated at this Institution, he leaves 
with the sincerest friendship and love of his fellow members 
of the Lafayette Society. We deeply regret the loss of such 
a member, and we moreover assure Mr. Fowler that he car- 
ries with him the best wishes of the Society for his welfare, 
prosperity, and happiness in future life. F. W. Davis, Presi- 
dent; Wm. H. Saunders, Secretary." 

"Princeton, Ky., June 22, 1837. — Dear Brother Littleton : 

*ln J^'ebruary, 1898, I was visiting the place of my birth. .Palestine, 
Texas, when I spent a day or so with the family of the Hon. John 
H. Reagan, the noted Texas statesman, who lives at his suburban 
home near the site of the old Fort Houston, for which his homt 
is named. The second day of my stay was a perfect rainy day, just 
the day fb>" reminiscences from the most interesting old "Sage of 
Palestine," so I lead him on in the paths 1 would have him go, — 
which went back more than half a century to Fort Houston, — when 
I remembered that that day was the fifty-seventh anniversary of my 
parents' notable wedding. 



180 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Your favor from Tuscumbia of recent date came to liaiid this 
morning, together with one for Araminta from you while 
at Courtland. We lay claim to the remainder of your time 
while you remain in this country. I am pleased to hear of 
the flattering prospects for La Grange College. I wish I 
could have been at La Grange this year, also at the closing 
exercises of the Female Academy, but that pleasure can not 
be mine until 1 return to take my second academic degree. 
I am making tolerable progress in the study of my profession; 
the greatest trouble I have is my unconquerable fondness for 
the society of ladies, it is all nonsense, I know, but what can 
1 do with my weakness, which seems hereditary, and the 
example of my elder brothci's ? 

"The office of clerk of th'.' circuit court became vacant a 
few weeks since by the dcuith of Colonel Dallam, when 
young Eezin Davidge was appointed his successor; he has 
made me his deputy, with the pay of $25 per month. The 
writing in the office will rccpiirc about one-fourth — or per- 
haps not so much — of my time; the other time to be given 
to study. A situation of this kind is said to be of great 
benefit to a candidate for the bar. The amusing part is to 
come; Clarence Dallam, son of the deceased, was an appli- 
cant for the office also, and his defeat so enraged him and 
all the family against Judge Davidge and his son that they 
are unfriendly to all who are friends of the latter. Eezin and 
I stay in one end of the clerk's office and Charles and Henry 
D. in the other end, but there are no dealings between the 
Jews and Sanuiritans. Willie approves of my new labors. 
Call on my friends, Littlejohn, Sykes, and Cheney at the 
Xashville University. Youi' brother, A. J. Fowler." 

The erstwhile extravagant, indolent ladies' man, the 
spoiled and handsome Jack, was my father. He was all his 
life fond of telling jokes on himself; one I particularly re- 
member was this : When at La Grange College, at about 
eighteen or nineteen years of age, he w^ent home with a 
college chum to visit during vacation. He was then pain- 
fully afraid of girls, which fear he sul)sequently entirely 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 181 

outgrew. After a long and fatiguing horseback journey they 
reached the friend's home at close of day. My father, whom 
I shall call Jack, soon proceeded to enjoy a smoke, when 
his friend joined him in his room. He was so tired that he 
wished to tilt back his chair, as in college quarters, but the 
room was so full of furniture he chose a closed door to lean 
his chair against. No sooner did his weight fall on the door 
than it flew open, precipitating thoughtless Jack into the 
middle of tlie adjoining apartment, where a bevy of girls 
was dressing to soon lay seige to the late arrivals. His chum 
and host rushed gallantly to the rescue of the humiliated 
Jack, got him up and out, but the latter vowed he would 
leave instantly. He got as far as the barn, where, while 
waiting for his horse to be saddled, the parents of his friend 
persuaded him to remain till morning. At supper the un- 
offending young ladies appeared, and so charming did they 
prove that Jack said no more of leaving the next day, or 
many days after. He had a serious affair of the heart at 
Tuscumbia, and came to Texas to heal his wounds. It is true 
it was only a college love affair, but he continued to speak of 
the young lady — she was always young to him, even when his 
head was white — with reverential regard and respect. We 
often laughed over her name. Miss Mandana Dionitia Indiana 
Batte, so signed in her letter giving him "the mitten.'' He 
always consoled himself, as masculine vanity is prone to do, 
with the thought that she would have accepted him had he 
not been a penniless suitor. 

I being the third from the youngest of nine children, re- 
member him only from his middle life to old age. It is true 
he had no conception of money, its value financially or 
socially, and he never sought after it or its influence. With 
all his charity for his fellow-man, — his crowning virtue was 
that charity which '^suffereth long and is kind," — he had 
ever an undisguised contempt for people who had nothing 
else but money and vulgar ostentation ; he never forgot him- 
self or his honest rearing to the disgusting extent of toady- 
ism. In his declining days be was a scholarly dreamer; the 



182 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

more disappointed he became in human nature^ the more he 
retired within his hooks. He gave his entire allegiance to 
his friends, and was quixotic in his expectations of their 
unqualified reciprocation. This would have been his most 
fitting epitaph: 

"You see we"re tired, 1113^ heart and I. 
We dealt with books, we trusted uien, 
We walked too straight for fortune's end, 
We loved too true to keep a friend; 
At last we're tired, my heart and I." 

Among the press notices of Judge A. J. Fowler's death, I 
select following extracts: "'Judge A. J. Fowler died, after 
months of painful illness, March 31, 1885, at his home in 
Lindale, Texas. Judge Fowler^s name and memory belong- 
to Palestine from the beginning, for he was one of its first 
citizens. He and his brother-in-law, A. E. McClure, of the 
old firm of McClure & Reeves, were among the earliest lead- 
ing lawyers of the East Texas bar. In his earlier manhood 
he served the same district as attorney which he served in 
maturer years as district judge. 

"He was superintendent of the first pioneer Sunday-school 
of Palestine, and, at the time of his death, he was the oldest 
Mason of the Palestine lodge, Judges Reagan and Jowers 
ranking after him ; and owing to his seniority of member- 
ship. Judge Fowler presided over the laying of the corner- 
stone of the Masonic Temple, in 1876 (or '77?) [illegible]. 

"When the clouds of war gathered over our fair Texas, 
Judge Fowler was an avowed Union man. He had come 
from a family of Henry Clay Whigs in Kentucky; he had 
helped as member of the old Texas Congress, together with 
his eldest brother, Colonel John Fowler of Red River County, 
to form the government of the Texas Republic; he had 
watched with anxious solicitude his loved adopted land 
suing for admission into the Union; he had heard the firing 
of anvils and sounds of joy when Texas passed into proud 
statehood; and, having lived her history^ he could not, he 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 183 



would not, raise his hand against the protecting flag that 
then waved over his beloved State. 

"So convinced was he that the South coukl not win in a 
war with the Xorth, he made speeches over the State against 
the secession of Texas. Then he carried his life in his hands, 
for the war spirit ran so high that he knew not when an 
assassin's bowie-knife might strilve him down in death. And 
after he had staked all, — his popularity as a citizen, the 
friendship of his neighbors, the safety of his own family, 
even life itself, — and accomplished nothing in the way of 
staying the tempestuous tide of war, he bowed to the will of 
the people and got ready for war. 

"At Corsicana, Texas, he was elected lieutenant-colonel of 
Bass' Texas Eegiment, under General Ben McCulloch, and he 
acted as colonel of this regiment all the time he was on the 
active field. When age exempted him from further military 
duty, he returned to his home, w^hich was left to the care of 
his few slaves and a son sixteen years of age (Henry), to 
take up the duties of tax assessor and collector, impressing 
all property, over that allowed by law, into use for the 
soldiers at the front. Again his popularity and safety were 
hazarded, for many a blatant secessionist who was too cow- 
ardly to fight in war would have covertly wreaked his old 
grudge against the judge when lawlessness reigned in the 
land. But through it all he passed unscathed to live to a 
ripe old age. 

"After the war. Judge Fowler never adjusted himself to 
the changed political conditions. Like his brothers. Judge 
Fowler of Kentucky and Colonel Fowler of Texas, he had 
been religiously brought up an old-line Whig, and he never 
affiliated with the Democratic party. Again he was on the 
unpopular side, for he never seemed to know or care which 
was the winning side. Again was he persecuted on account 
of his personal convictions, and none but the people of that 
time could ever know how intense and bitter was the feeling 
against a southern Eepublican. The carpet-bagger was hated 
as an outcast from Yankeeland, but the southern Eepublican 



184 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

was regarded as a traitor to his southland, no matter what 
had been his deeds of heroism or of sacrifice. 

"And now, ^after life's fitful fever, he sleeps well.' He 
had been a Methodist from his youth up and was a licensed 
minister of that church in the days of the old Republic. Had 
he remained in the ministry, what a power he could have 
been in the new State, with his scholarly learning, his fear- 
less convictions of duty, and his high ideas of manhood and 
right. 

"He leaves an aged wife and three sons and three 
daughters to mourn his loss, his son Henry Fowler, a late 
citizen of Palestine, having preceded him in death only a 
few months. His children will revere his memory, and his 
faith was great enough to assure liim tliat liis wrongs will 
all be righted in the great beyond."' 

These letters here produced may prove of general interest, 
even if the young Fowler vdio figures in them should not 
hold the attention. In after years — who can tell? — these 
messages from the far East might be curiously read l)y others 
outside of the Fowler familv. 

The young man was much written about in the American 
and Texas papers and his portrait was given, and hence I 
insert in this record without further apology. The following 
appeared in the Daily Visitor, of Palestine, Texas, February 
3, 1900. The writer is a Palestine boy, as well as Captain 
Fowler. 

A soldier's letter fro."\i the ph.ilippixe islands. 

"San Fabian, P. I., December 23, 1899. Xorth Firing 
Line. — Editor Daily Visitor, Palestine, Texas. — It was Sep- 
tember 30, 1899, when we, the Thirty-third U. S. V. I. Regi- 
ment, embarked on the transport Sheridan for the Orient. 
A great crowd was at the ^Frisco wharf to give us a last 
hand-shake. Though some of us were then thousands of 
miles from home, these strangers seemed to us like old 
friends with messages and prayers from our loved ones at 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 185 

home. It was a grand sight, that vast throng of men, 
women, and chiklren, shouting at the tops of their voices and 
tossing high in the air hats and parasols, and waving hand- 
kerchiefs and flags, while the regimental band on board 
struck up the old-time tune, 'The Girl I Left Behind Me/ 
Then some one shouted, 'Three cheers for the Stars and 
Stripes and the girl we leave behind us !' The deafening 
roar in response will never be forgotten. Then we steamed 
slowly away toward the 'Golden Gate,^ with every vessel in 
the bay firing us a last salute. 

"We anchored at Honolulu on October 8th, where we spent 
three days, and took on coal. We arrived in Manila Bay on 
October 28th, and remained at anchor until the 30th, when 
we disembarked and were sent to Loma church, three miles 
south of Manila, near the waterworks, where we remained 
only a few days, when Captain Fowler's company. Company 
F, was put on detached duty and sent thirty miles across 
Manila Bay to hold Corregidor Island. We were held there 
until November 15th, when we were ordered to the north 
firing line, where we are now doing some fine work. 

"Our company has been detached from the regiment since 
November 3d, and, as Captain Fowler has proved such a fine 
commander, I think Colonel Hare is very well satisfied to 
allow him to act alone. We have been in several battles, and 
in every one Captain Fowler has shown himself a fearless 
leader. I shall mention one of his many acts of bravery: 
On November 22d General Wheaton ordered Captain Fowler 
to take his company and proceed to a certain province and 
locate the enemy, not once entertaining the thought of the 
captain and seveuty-four men making an attack. When we 
reached the town where the enemy were supposed to be we 
found to our sorrow that they had retreated to the moun- 
tains. The captain gained the information from some of 
the natives that the enemy had gone to reinforce a certain 
general whose command was located at Mangatarem, which 
command was a large one. Our captain smilingly stepped to 
the front of our small column and asked, 'How many of 



186 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

you think you can 'iiike'" twenty miles a day?' and all of us 
answered, 'L,' with the exception of three whose feet were 
hlistered. 

"After nesting a short time we continued on in the coun- 
try, which had not yet been traveled by the American forces. 
On we marched for two days and nights, in mud sometimes 
up to our knees, across rivers and ravines, up, over, and down 
mouiitains, tlirough rice fields, until finally we spied the 
enem\', on the morning- of the 2-itli. It was 2 o'clock a. m. 
when their outposts fired upon us: in an instant Captain 
Fowler commanded. 'Strip for action I' Instantly we were 
in fighting trim, and we continued to advance while the 
enemy were popping away at us in volleys. Finally the cap- 
tain called, Tire at will I" Then the woods did everlastingly 
ring, and we stepped a double quick, driving the enemy like 
sheep before us. Every few minutes we could see reinforce- 
ments coming from the town to join the fleeing Filipinos, 
when they would make a stand, which was only momentary, 
for we would again charge them and send them fleeing nearer 
to the town. 

'^All along the road we passed over their dead and dying, 
which fact encouraged us very much, for we knew that we 
were able to cope with them, even inflicting a heavy loss on 
them. At length, after hard fighting over four of the longest 
miles T ever traveled, we came to the city^s edge, where we 
knew that the hardest part of the battle was to be. All the 
way they had been turning their cannon loose at us; then 
we would charge right up to them, but about twenty-five 
negroes would whirl the gun around and go spinning down 
the road with it. All this time a heavy firing was kept up 
in the city square. 

"After halting a few minutes for a breathing spell. Cap- 
tain Fowler ordered us to the charge again, and we went 
right into the heart of the city, yelling as only Texas boys 
can yell. This was too much for them — the enemy — for 
they fled in all directions, leaving behind five cannon, 102 
Spanish prisoners, 11 American prisoners, and about 100 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 187 

of their own dead and wounded. They had gone to the 
mountains to retnrn no more while we were to remain. 
There we had been in possession two days before we were 
reinforced l)y Bell's scouts, when we went np in the moun- 
tains and had another battle, capturing thirteen more can- 
non and a lot of tools for the manufacture of ammunition. 

"One of the happiest hours of my life was when we got to 
the old convent and found there the American prisoners, 
who were overcome with joy; they ran out in the public plaza 
and hugged and kissed us, like our mothers. Some were so 
overwhelmed with joy that they stood like statues, others 
wept or sang praises to God. An amusing incident was con- 
nected with a negro captive of the Twenty-fourth Eegiment. 
The Filipinos had left him, in their wild haste, and he 
worked his way back to us. When he came in we all gathered 
round him, for he made us think of dear old Dixie, as he was 
a typical southern negro. When he had fully regained his 
breatKhe said : 'White mens, dey sho kin run ! Dey des got 
up an' walked on de atmosphere. You cum putty speedy, 
but you's too slow fur dem 'surgents.' 

"From Mangatarem we returned to San Fabian and re- 
mained a few days, when we were ordered on another raid, 
in which we captured several more towns. We are now 
awaiting orders. All the while we have acted alone under 
the exclusive control of Captain Fowler and have only done 
our duty, as all American soldiers will do. 

"The climate here is not as disagreeable as we have been 
led to believe; the nights are cool and sometimes chilly, 
which causes much sickness. We have all the fruit we can 
eat, which we pluck from the trees for ourselves. Our 
rations are as good as could be expected in this distant, bar- 
barous land. Since we have been here we have lost several 
of our brave leaders,' — Major Logan, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Brereton, and Major-General Lawton. Yours truly, 

"Corporal R. K. Blackshear, 
"Co. F, 33d IT. S. V. I., Island Luzon.'' 



188 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Captain Fowler writes in a private letter that the carriage 
of the Filipino general ]\IontenegTO was captured with ]\Ian- 
gatarem. 

Colonel Hare pays Captain Fowler the compliment of 
calling him one of his "finest tacticians/' hut that is little 
comfort to his home-folks, who see no good in this unholy 
war. If the captain of Company F has acted as a hrave 
soldier should, as well as the other Texas boys of his little 
band, we are gratified that much, and pray that this bar- 
barous war may soon be ended, when all our boys may come 
marching home again. God help them to be brave men and 
humane Christians wherever they are. 

"Corregidor Island, Philippine Islands, November 6, 
1899. — Dear Uncle and Aunt: I sent you my last letter 
from Honolulu, where we remained three days, taking on 
supplies and coal. I was on duty one day, and one day my 
first lieutenant was getting ready to return to the United 
States, which business kept me on the transport most, of the 
day, but I got to see most of the Hawaiian city, which is 
beautiful beyond description, and seems to possess every- 
thing to make life pleasant. I should like to live there, for 
it is sufficiently American, but no American city could be so 
beautiful. Their public buildings, statues, and other attrac- 
tions are of the highest class. 

"You will be surprised to hear of my being governor- 
general of Corregidor Island, but no more so than I am. 
This little island commands and protects the entrance to 
Manila Bay. It is twenty-seven miles from Manila, while 
our lines go out beyond the ( ity only seven or eight miles, so 
we are twenty miles out, while the mainland, which is in- 
surgent country, is only two miles away across the straits, 
with one of the enemy's strongholds only three and one-half 
miles from us. We protect the hospital here — which is the 
largest in the P. I. — and guard against smuggling. This 
little dot of an island has a population of almost a thousand, 
and I am ^dng of the island,' for no native can even go fish- 
ing without my permission ! 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 189 

''We arrived in Manila on October 27th, and on the 39th 
we took a position at La Lorna, west of Manila, guarding a 
front of about four miles of what is known as the ^interior 
line,' but it is really the only line of defense, the ^exterior 
line' being the column in the north. We relieved the 
Twenty-fifth Infantry, whicJi had a big fight in the trenches 
in front there on the 9th. We had no fighting, but a good 
deal of picket work, wdiich was w-orrying, but did not amount 
to anything. There w^ould be firing all nights long, but 
nothing serious. 

^'I was suit over here on the 1st, and do not know the 
reason why, but the regular officers seem to think I am very 
fortunate, assuring me it is a complimentary position, but I 
want to be W'itli my regiment and get into a real fight. I am 
going to Manila to-morrow^ to try to be relieved of this 
post. * * * We had a fine trip out; w^e were twenty- 
seven days on the voyage and had only one Sunday in two 
weeks, for you know^ that we skipped a day. In Washington 
they read of our arrival at 10 o'clock on 27th October, at 
7 o'clock a. m. on the day before our arrival. * * * The 
city of Manila is an interesting old place, and some day I 
hope to have time to w^ite you all about it. G-ive my love 
to all. Yours affectionately, 

^^GODFREY EeES FoWLEK.^' 

'^San Fabian, Luzon, Philippine Isles, December 21, 
1899. — * * '^' I have marched 150 miles and fought 
in two big battles since I wrote you. Our one company 
drove Alejandrino, wdth his brigade and two batteries of 
artillery, out of Mangatarem into the mountains and cap- 
tured seven pieces of artillery, and released ninety-six Span- 
ish prisoners and seven Americans, and captured vast stores 
of ammunition and supplies. This tue did with our one 
company wJiile forty miles from tlie rest of the regiment. 
Then, after holding the town for three days, until the Thirty- 
sixth came from Tarlac, w^e attacked the enemy in the moun- 
tains, — they had been reinforced by San Miguel and his 
brigade, — and we cut them to pieces and captured all of their 



190 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

supplies^ arsenal, fifteen guns, and over one hundred rifles. 
* * * Since then I have been up in the northern moun- 
tains, but have had no fight. I have never seen our regiment 
since we hmded, as we were so early detached from it and 
are still so; in fact we are almost independent of it. Our 
men call ourselves the ^Free Fighters.^ Now and then we 
get down to the coast for supplies and rest up. T understand 
that the American press had a good deal to say about our 
fight. Please save the pajiers, especially the Sun and Jour- 
nal, for me. * * * 1 have l)cen up in tlie Igarrote coun- 
try in the mountains; they are a copper-colored people who 
wear no clothes Ijut a string around their waists; they eat 
dogs and one another and worship hog-skulls. 

"Luzon is not so bad as one is lead to believe; during the 
dry season it is not at all unhealthy. I must close now and 
go and inspect my outposts. This letter will be taken to 
Dagupan Ijy a Spanish friar whom we fouiul in tbe moun- 
tains. We are scouoring the country in tbc hopes of finding 
Gilmore, either in Banguet or Bayandjorg. I am in fine 
health. I send Aunt Dora a Manila magazine. Affection- 
ately 3'ours, Godfrey Rees Fowler. 

"I have to send this without stamps, for there are no post- 
offices outside of Manila." 

Later Captain Fowler returned to the United States with 
the Thirty ^third Regiment, March, 1901, on the United 
States transport Logan, and was mustered out of service at 
San Francisco. He declined a commission in the regular 
army because he believed that the ones most interested in 
him did not wish him to remain in the army. President 
McKinley personally offered a commission for the young man 
to Judge Reagan, his grandfather, on the occasion of the 
President's visit to Austin, Texas, in 1901, when the two 
acquaintances of former years in Washington City met again, 
which was at a dinner at the Texas Governor's. The young 
Mr. Fowler has quietly returned to his native town, Palestine, 
Texas, and industriously resumed his law practice, which 
had been twice broken off by his military yearnings — his 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 191 



burnings to wear a uniform, Jiear cannon, and fight a battle. 
Good citizenship is the only glory ( ?) that we, his foster 
parents, wish him to attain. 

The following appeared in the San Antonio Express, July 
25, 1901, during the State encampment at Austin, Texas. I 
am pleased to add that the young man is modest and re- 
tiring, unspoiled by his new honors: 

''captain fowler, a PHILIPPINE HERO. 

"Captain G. R. Fowler of Palestine is here in command 
of the Burkitt Rifles of that city, officially known as Com- 
pany G, Third Infantry. Captain Fowler came to Camp 
Mabry in 1898 during the mobilization of Texas' contingent 
to Uncle Sam's Cuban army as quartermaster of the Second 
Texas Infantry. A vacancy was created in Company G and 
Captain Fowler was elected captain and went to Cuba with 
that command. When the famous Thirty-third Infantry 
was organized Captain Fowler received a commission as 
captain of Company F. He went to the Philippines with 
Colonel Hare and while there won a reputation for nerve and 
discretion that any man might be proud of, and won a vic- 
tory for which another secured credit and great honors at 
the hands of the government of the United States. 

''The readers of the daily press of the country will re- 
member about a year ago a telegram from Manila was pub- 
lished giving an account of how a company of the Thirty- 
third Regiment commanded by a Texan entered an insurgent 
fortified town where 1700 men were stationed and guarding 
a lot of ordnance and supplies. The company marched into 
the town in column of fours and routed the whole insurgent 
forces, who thought they were the advance guard of the 
whole army. The company captured six pieces of ordnance, 
20,000 rounds of rapid fire ammunition and about 200 small 
arms. He took possession of the town and as commanding 
•officer sent a message for reinforcements, knowing he could 
not hold the town if the insurj2^eiits came back in laro-e 



192 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

numbers. He also sent a message to General Wheaton, under 
whose command he was operating. Before his reinforcements 
came in a certain colonel came up and took command. The 
captain of that nervy compan}^ of men was Captain G. E. 
Fowler. Army officers who were in the Philippines and are 
cognizant of the facts unhesitatingly state that Captain 
Fowler's action was one of the bravest in the annals of mili- 
tary achievements. 

"Captain Fowler comes from nervy stock, and those who 
know him were not surprised at his daring. He is a grand- 
son of Judge John H. Eeagan. 

'•Besides being a fighter, Captain Fowler is a thorough 
tactician and drill master unexcelled. This is aptly and 
amply demonstrated by the condition of the company of 
which he is now in command.'' 

BETTER THAN GOLD. 

Better than grandeur, better than gold, 
Than rank and titles a thousandfold, 
Is a healthy body and mind at ease, 
And simple pleasures that always please. 
A heart that can feel for another's woe. 
And comforting words that freely flow; 
With sympathies large enough to enfold 
All men as brothers, is better than gold. 

Better than gold is a conscience clear, 
Though toiling for bread in an humble sphere; 
DoubTy blest with content and health. 
Untried by the lusts and cares of wealth; 
Lowly living and lofty thought 
Adorn and ennoble a poor man's cot; 
For mind and morals, in nature's plan, 
Are the real tests of a gentleman. 

Better than gold is a thinking mind 
Which in the realm of books can find 
Treasures surpassing Australian ore, 
And live with the good and gi-eat of yore; 
The sage's lore and the poet's lay, 
The glories of empires passed away: 
The world's great dream will thus unfold 
And yield a pleasure better than gold. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 193 



Better than gold is a peaceful home, 
Where all the fireside loved ones come — 
The shrine of love, the haven of life, 
Hallowed by mother, sister, or wife. 
However humble the home may be. 
Or tried Avith sorrow by heaven's decree. 
The blessings that never were bought or sold 
And center there, are better than gold." 

— [Father Ryan. 



13 — Fowler. 



CHAPTER X. 

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF LITTLETON FOWLER, CON- 
TAINING FAMILY PERSONALS. 

Journal No. 1 is very ancient in appearance, being bound 
m buckskin. No. 2 is more modern in leather binding, and 
bears on the fly-leaf this inscription in a good hand : "Pre- 
sented to his Cousin, Littleton Fowler, by J. W. Fowler, 
Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 20, 1837."' Following are quotations 
from No. 1 : 

"I, Littleton Fowler, was born September 12, 1803, in 
Smith County, Tenn., from which place my parents moved 
to Caldwell County, Ky., while 1 was quite young (180G). 

^'June, 1819, 1 embraced religion at a camp-meeting held 
by Cumberland Presbyterians in Caldwell County, Ivy. ; 
shortly afterwards 1 joined the Methodist Episcopal church, 
which act I regard the happiest of my life. 

''In 1826, at the Louisville Conference, I was admitted on 
trial in the travelling connection and appointed to the Red 
River Circuit in the State of Tennessee. In consequence of 
ill health I did not reach the field of my labours until 
February, 1827. After making three rounds of my circuit I 
was attacked by fever which resulted in a long and painful 
illness of six or seven months. When able to travel I went 
home to mother's, where I A\as received as one almost risen 
from the dead. In this severe affliction I expected to die, but 
how true is the saying, 'Every preacher is immortal till his 
work is done.' At the Conference of 1827 I was left with- 
out an appointment in consequence of bodily affliction. 

"At the Conference of 1828, held at Shelby ville, I was 
given charge of Bowling Green station, although I was, 
feeble in health and young in the ministry. [Then twenty- 
five years old.] 

"The Conference of 1829, held at Lexington, made me 





r 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 195 

assistant preacher of H. H. Kavanaugh at Louisville station. 

"The Conference of 1830, held at Eussellville, sent me 
to Cynthiana station, where I arrived Xov. 11, and began 
my work under discouraging circumstances. [The journal 
here tells of the young minister's trouble when he preached 
the evils of theater-going and other worldly amusements to 
his fashionable congregation.] 

''After preaching this morning I started across the river 
on the ice, in company of two, to hold services on the oppo- 
site shore. We had gone about a quarter of the distance 
when we heard voices of alarm, and stopping, we heard up 
the river a mighty rumbling like the rapid approach of a 
tempest; we saw the ice breaking for a mile or two above 
us, and it was a fearful sight. Peter-like, our faith failed 
and we made haste for the .shore. 

"This week we have had .some good services. I have been 
to too many weddings, for 1 have been less spiritual since; 
the people are noisy and lively at these places. Lord help 
me to keep a guard on my tongue and thy fear ever before 
my eyes. 

"Dec. 24, 1831. — This day fifteen years ago my father 
was buried. 

"In 1832 I was transferred to the Tenn. conference and 
stationed at Tuscumbia, in North Alabama. 

"Xov. 24, 1833. — Last July I went on a business trip to 
Kentucky, also to visit my relatives there. 1 was absent from 
my station seven weeks, during which time I preached at six 
camp-meetings, receiving more than one hundred into the 
church. 

"The Pulaski Con., Nov. 1833, appointed me financial 
agent of La Grange College. I left Tuscumbia for Little 
Eock, Ark. ; after traveling three days I reached my uncle 
David Fowler's in Hardeman County. With him lives my 
aged grandmother, who is ninety years old, yet she can see 
to read without spectacles. She is a member of the Baptist 
church and very pious. At Memphis I met my cousin, J. W. 
Fowler, a young man with \A'hom I was much pleased. 



196 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY, 



"I left Little Rock, Dee. 1833, and traveled alone 
through a lonely and sickly country until I reached Red 
River and my brother John Fowler's home, where I was 
received in a brotherly and affectionate manner, but my 
feelings so overcame me tha: 1 could not speak at our meet- 
ing again. His wife is in very low health. 

^'I went from there to Jonesboro, ]\Iiller County, on Red 
River, which is disputed ground between Spain and the 
r. S., where 1 met my brotlier Bradford, a brotlier younger 
than myself.-' 

After writing more or less of his work of traveling for 
LaGrange College, Ala., for which institution of learning 
he is said to have done more than any other man except 
Robertus Raine (afterwards lusho})), .loiii'iial No. 1 ceases 
abruptly, perhaps ijroken off Ijy one of his many serious 
attacks of illness. Journal Xo. 2 begins on the day he leaves 
for the Republic of Texas as a missionary, and quoted else- 
where. An instance oi tlie droll humor of the missionary 
IS here given to show his human nature, for he was not 
preaching and praying all of the time, ''To-day we rode 40 
miles and stayed all night with a man who scraped so long 
on an old fiddle that his hearers nearly had St. Vitus' dance; 
at supper, to return his courtesy, I said a long and loud 
grace, the fiddler and his wife looked thunderstruck, and 
we had no more fiddling that night." What could better 
picture the old-time dread of a "parson?" 

Journal Xo. 2 says: "From Washington, Hempstead 
County, Ark., 1 went to Jonesboro through the Choctaw 
Nation, riding with fever two days; at J. I met my two 
brothers [John and Bradford?] and other relatives [the 
Wrights?]. After two weeks of fever I returned to Hemp- 
stead to unite my brother. J. H. Fowler, in marriage with 
Mrs. Elizabeth Alexander, Sept. 26, 1837.'' 

Mr. Fowler then left for the missionary field of the Texas 
Republic. 

Many entries intervene relating to the organization of 
Methodist "societies" and other church work ; also to his 



ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 197 

services as chaplain of tlie Senate of the old Texas Congresses, 
held in Houston, 1837-1838. Eeturning to Journal No. 2: 
"June 21, 1838, I was married bj the Rev. L. Campbell to 
Mrs. Missouri M. Porter, whose maiden name was Lock- 
wood; she was reared and educated in Xewport, Ivy. The 
birth, marriage, and death of a person are considered the 
most important events of one's life; my marriage has been 
most fortunate and happy. 

"Late in July, or early in Aug., the inhabitants of Xacog- 
doehes became much alarmed at the rebellion of the Mexican 
citizenship, in concert with some Indians; they assembled 
about twenty miles from town evidently designing an im- 
mediate attack, when they would burn the town and put 
the white residents to the sword. The citizens went out 
under arms to meet the wily enemy, which fled, after killing 
some whites. 

''Sept. 18, 1838, I left liiy family in Xacogdoches and 
proceeded to the Tennessee Conference, which was held in 
Huntsville, Ala. ; on my return to Texas, Nov. 1, I found that 
my wife had fled to San Augustine for safety from the 
Indians and Mexicans, who were still threatening and 
alarming.'' 

Here personal allusions cease, the remainder of the book 
Deing taken up with the constantly increasing church labors 
of the missionary. He continued to reside in Nacogdoches 
until he purchased a farm in Sabine County, about midway 
Detween San Augustine and Milam, the latter being the seat 
of justice of Sabine. He died on this farm, January 29, 
1846. 

FAMILY LETTERS TO LITTLETON FOWLER, THE TEXAS MIS- 
SIONARY. 

These letters have been kindly loaned me by the Rev. Lit- 
tleton Morris Fowler, son of the missionary. Extracts con- 
taining family news and other items of interest to this record 
are copied ; this is history pure and simple, with no embellish- 
ment of "word of mouth." 



198 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

The first letter of a relaiive is from John W. Fowler, a 
son of the Eev. David Fowler, a Methodist preacher of 
Hardeman County, Tennessee. It is dated December 10, 
1837, Memphis, Tenn. It was folded and sealed with wax, 
and addressed on the back, — for it was in the days before 
envelopes, — to "Eev. Littleton Fowler, Missionary to Texas,^^ 
— there is no postoffice or other destination in the broad 
land of the big Republic, — and is marked "paid, 25 cts/' 
"Brother Joseph was here a few days since* and he seems 
pretty well satisfied with home in Miss. Brother William 
was married soon after you left to Miss Adams, the young 
lady whom lie told you he intended to marry; he is now 
looking for liimself a rich farm on the Miss. Eiver. You 
see that Billy is ahead, for we are still in single blessedness. 
Is there no hope for Littleton and John? My sisters are 
well."' 

"Princeton, Ky., Sept. 1-1, 183;. — Brother Joseph and 
Ginsey are both well. Jackson has license to practice law 
and he will leave here soon for Texas, to follow his profession. 
As he will take this to you he can tell you more than I can 
write. Miss Goodall sends her compliments to you and 
says she never sings the missionary hymn but she thinks of 
you. Farewell, my dear brother, Araminta Fowler" (first 
wife of Judge W. P. Fowler). In the foregoing Mrs. F. tells 
also of her recent profession of faith and her union with 
the Methodist church. 

"Princeton, Jan. 23, 1838. — We have had a wedding in 
our family which has kept me busy for some time; Clara 
Goodall and my brother Augustus Given are married and 
gone to Xew Orleans. She received your letter and said 
she would write you from there. The day after they were 
married, when iVugustus was as happy as he could be, and 
thinking, too, that he was worth at least ten thousand dollars, 
his business in N. 0. was swept away by fire; nothing was 
saved except his books, which were kept in an iron box found 
intact in the ashes next morning. If the insurance office 
fail, my poor brother will have to begin life anew. 



ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 199 

"Littleton, if you see Jack soon, tell him there is one in 
Ky. who has a sister's and u mother's love and anxiety for 
him. He has a good heart, but he has placed it on the 
pleasures of this world. Give him my love and ask him to 
write to me. You have always been so courted by the ladies 
that I do hope you will have a good wife. You are to come 
back to Ky. and live near us. Sister Polly Ann complains 
that you do not write to her. Your aifectionate sister, 
Araminta Fowler." 

"Jonesboro, Ark., April 13, 1837. — During my travels in 
Texas I visited many places of interest, — San x^ntonio, San 
Patricio, Victoria, Columbia, Brazoria, Velasco, and various 
points on the Gulf. * * * 1 see that the independence 
of Texas has been recognized by the U. S. and only awaits 
the signature of the President. This being the case, my 
lands in Tex. will be worth a double fortune; I have claims 
for the half of twelve leagues, exclusive of my own head- 
right. Our relatives here are all well. Cousin George 
Wright left this morning for Columbia, as you know he is 
a member of Congress; Travis is in New Orleans; Alexander 
is grown. Atfec, your brother, Bradford C. Fowler." 
[These three Wright brothers were the sons of Claiborne W., 
the brother of Clara, who married Godfrey Fowler.] 

"Clarksville, Republic of Texas, May 28, 1838.— My Dear 
Brother Jackson : Our land cases are accumulating, with 
fat fees. Justicia, alias S., has gone Indian hunting with the 
fear that he may find one. Our fees now amount to more 
than $1000. I am more than sorry I can not be present at 
Littleton's wedding. Kiss my new^ sister for me and bring 
me some wedding cake. B. C. F." 

"'Clarksville, Tex. Rep., Aug. 29, 1838.— Dear Brother 
Littleton: From a letter handed me by Jack I learn that 
you have bidden farewell to old bachelorhood. Please accept 
my warmest congratulations. A late letter from Willie 
(Wiley P. F., of Ky.), says brother Joseph will be here by 
fall and perhaps Willie with him. * * * Jack and I 



200 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

have as good a law library, perhaps, as any in the Repiil)lic. 
With love to my new sister, your brother, Bradford." 

"Clarksville, Xov. 12, 1838.— My Dear Sister Missouri: 
In a letter to Jack 1 learn with pain of your precipitate 
flight from your comfortable home in Xacogdoches to a 
smoky cal)in of refuge in San Augustine, while fearing for 
your life on account of the Indian uprising. I know only 
too well both Mexicans and Indians; in *36 I numbered one 
of the Red River Volunteers. Littleton is expected through 
here daily, as we learn he is in Ark., on his way home. 
Your brother, Bradford." 

"Clarksvillr, Red River County. Rep. of Tex., Apr. 11, 
1838. — Dear Brother Littleton: My trip home was not the 
most pleasant; I was on the road twelve days, spending one 
night in the forest alone. ^ Since my return I find tliere is 
much business before me as justice of tlie peace, mostly 
land disputes, so I think I shall decline the appointment 
as deputy surveyor. While your are in Houston, please send 
me all the Congressional documents you possiljly can, also the 
Telegraph. Please have the law firm of Craig & Fowler 
advertised in Houston and Xacogdoches papers. You may 
look for me by your wedding day; I am trying to arrange 
my affairs so as to be there. Some petitions will go up to 
Congress for the running of the boundary line; so far as 
consistent, use your influence to enlist advocates. Yours in 
affection, A. J. Fowler.'^ 

''Jonesboro, Ark., Sept. 30, 1838.— Dear Brother Little- 

^Well do 1 remember my father telling in the family circle of his 
night alone in the almost impenetrable forests of early Texas. While 
lost on Indian trails night overtook him; he lay down to rest at 
once, so weary was he of continuous horseback travel. His Mexican 
blanket was his bed and his saddle a pillow. He had tethered his 
horse — a fine Kentucky animal — to a tree at his head. With his 
six-shooter in his right hand and bowie-knife in his left, he fell 
asleep, equally afraid of savage beast and savage man. In the heavy 
night he was startled by the rearing and plunging of his horse; he 
was on his feet instantly and beside his wildly frightened com- 
panion that trembled violently and snorted terribly. Soon all was 
quiet again, but there was no more sleep until morning light, when 
my father mounted and followed again his Indian trail ; he often 
wondered if the intruder of the night were a panther or an Indian. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 201 



ton : I was nearly six weeks getting home from Nacogdoches. 
My health is little better; I still have fever and agues. 
About the first of this montli a call was made for volunteers 
to protect the frontier from Indian depredations, — the Caddo, 
Anadarco, and the Keechi tribes. We were out seventeen 
days and suffered terribly for water and food for both man 
and beast. We killed only three red-skins; we could have 
demolished their villages had not our provisions given out 
before we reached their settlements. I was very sick during 
the whole expedition, but I am better now. I shall not at- 
tempt to go to court in Nacogdoches and Shelby counties, 
as my health is too feeble and the route by the Cherokee 
trace too hazardous at present. Brother John expects to call 
on you in Oct. Remember me affectionately to sister M. 
Yours in brotherly love, A. J. Fowler." 

"Clarksville, Nov. 17, 1838.— Mrs. M. M. Fowler: My 
Dear Sister.— Mr. Phillips, of Ft. Jessup (La.), Mdll take 
this letter there and send to you for me. I regret to hear 
that your section of the country is in such a state of danger 
and confusion, on account of the Indian war, especially so 
since it has caused my dear sister so much trouble and alarm. 
Your stay in San Augustine must have been full of anxiety, 
but I trust the return of brother Littleton from the XJ. S. 
has brought much comfort to you and Symmes. I was 
anxious to attend the last district court at Nacogdoches, as 
many persons were to have been tried for high treason, but I 
was too feeble to undertake the journey. * * * We are 
making preparations for an Indian campaign under General 
Eusk; two thirds of the effective force of our county are 
assembled at this place, our town presenting quite a military 
sight. I am one of the volunteers. Tell brother L. that our 
league of land will come into market soon, as it is within 
three or four miles of De Kalb, a little town which is being 
settled rapidly. Bradford and I expect to be at the Nacog- 
doches spring term of court. With love to you both, aft'ec- 
tionately, A. J. F." 

"Clarksville, Feb. 17, '38.— My Dear Brother Littleton: 



202 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

John Denton arrived this evening from Hempstead (Ark.), 
bringing me a letter from you. Jackson is here at my house 
and your letter has decided him to start to San x\ugustine 
to-morrow. T avail myself of the opportunity of sending you 
Nimrod; Jack will ride him. If you can sell my horse for 
a good price — say $200 — do so at once and deposit the money 
in Xew Orleans for T. G. Wright, who is just leaving here 
for that market; he will then bring the money to me. The 
Land Office is now in operation and Texas lands are going 
fast; I have as much as I care about. My next object is to 
resume my mercantile business — this time in company of 
Shelton and x\lbert Kimball. We hope to have a regular 
Texas mail soon ; some good friends in Houston have had 
me appointed post master of Clarksville. Your affectionate 
brother, J. H. Fowler." 

"Clarksville, May 26, 1838.— Dear Brother Littleton: H 
is painful for me to record the death of our friend James 
Clark; he died on the 2d inst., of quinsy, with the same 
symptoms our father died of. His brother Gilbert attended 
his bedside with great solicitude. * * * ^pj^g j.r^f|^ ig 
now sufficiently cleared for steamboats to pass, so we have 
them often. Indians are depredating in our neighborhood. 
Your brother, J. H. Fowler." 

The following letter is marked on the back, in the upper 
right hand corner, "Free, J. H. Fowler, M. C." The writer 
v\'as then a member of the senate of the Congress of the 
Eepublic of Texas: "City of Houston, Nov. 14, 1838.— Dear 
Brother L. : I am glad to learn by Mr. Jameson, who parted 
from you at Xatchez, Miss., that you have returned home 
to your 'loveliest.^ I went to see her while on my way here; 
the recent Indian disturbance had frightened her off to San 
Augustine, and I think her retreat was timely. I left my 
family well, but have grave fears that the Indian alarms 
will give them much uneasiness in my absence. Congress is 
giving all the aid possible to Gen. Eusk, making appropria- 
tions for a vigorous Indian war, with the hope of a speedy 
and successful termination. Congress and the Executive 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 203 



(President Lamar) are at variance, as usual, — both being in 
error. Congress requires the President to give his message 
in writing; the chief proved obstinate; Congress is un- 
willing to make important enactments for fear of the presi- 
dential veto. SSo the world wags.' Yours, John H. 
Fowler.'' 

"City of Houston, Dec. 22, 1838.— Dr. Greer, my friend, 
will hand you this; I would send you some documents but 
he has all he can carry. * * * i have no doubt a 
Donation Law will pass ; a frontier bill has already passed. I 
shall not be able to visit you as soon as promised, as the 
Madam will present me a fine son^ if I hurry my return 
home. George Wright is recovering finely. Yours faithful 
till death, J. H. F." 

The following letter is postmarked with large stencil, 
"Princeton, Ky., May 5," — in the upper right-hand corner, 
"Paid, 56+ cts." In upper left corner is written with pen, 
"Galveston, June 4, '38, ship." Beneath that is stenciled, 
"Sam Kicker, Jr., New Orleans, Agt. Texian P. 0. Dept." 
The address is, "Eev. Littleton Fowler, Missionary, Texas." 
All this is interesting to the student of postal history, for it 
was prior to the day of either envelopes or stamps; it used 
to cost something to write to loved ones. The last page of 
every letter was left blank for the superscription ; the packet 
was always folded in a prescribed form and the ends sealed 
with wafers of sealing wax. I remember the endless trouble 
"during the war," when no matches were to be had and 
when the fire was out, so no candle or homemade "taller" 
dip could be instantly lighted to heat the wax for sealing. 
Matches and mucilage are great luxuries indeed. Here is the 
letter inside : 

"Princeton, Ky., May 1, 1838.— Dear Brother Littleton: 
Your letter dated last Dec. reached me the middle of last 

-The son promised turned out a daughter, who was christened 
Susan Clara ; the next child was a son, John Littleton. Both of these 
children grew up a comfort to their father and a credit to his name 
and blood. 



204 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

month. One came at the same time from John, in which I 
learn that Jackson had gone to La Grange, Ala., via Xacog- 
doches, to return shortly to Miller County, Ark. Jack is 
offended with l)oth Willie (Wiley) and me because we both 
lecture him on his extravagant habits and his lack of in- 
dustry. He is tlie youngest and has had neither father or 
mother to bring him up, and I am afraid we have spoiled him 
so he will never get over it; he coukl do well if he would. 
John is unusually urgent fo,- Willie and me to go to Texas 
and buy lands. I should be glad to go immediately, for 
times certainly are hard enough here; confidence between 
man and man is much impaired ; more money difficulties than 
I ever knew. Gen. Jackson's better currency, which he 
promised in place of U. S.'s bank notes put down by him, 
accounts for the money-stringency. We have a little silver 
which is our standard of valuation. Adieu, in brotherly 
love. Joseph Wright Fowler." 

"Princeton, Ky., July 30, 1838.— Dear Brother Littleton: 
We have received three or four of your very interesting letters 
and often heard from you by persons from your country. It 
is a source of fraternal gratification that your reception by 
the mixed population of Texas has been so kind, and the 
prospects for advancing the great work which took you there 
so cheering. If I could receive the long-wished-for informa- 
tion that you have eschewed old bachelorhood and entered 
the life of a benedict, my solicitude regarding you would 
be pleasurably lessened. 

"We have another one of the finest boys, now five months 
old, named Littleton Augustus; so you see, if you do not 
get our letters, we have not been unmindful of you. After 
this compliment to yourself you should feel constrained to 
name your first son Willie in flattering return of the 
honor. 

"I have had tw-o letters lately from brothers John and 
Bradford; both say that Jack has good prospects in his pro- 
fession. If Jack would apply himself and strive to be more 
energetic, there is no doubt of his ultimate success in the 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 305 



law. Write to brother John and urge him to spur Jack up 
to daily diligent attention to his profession. Bradford 
writes that he is succeeding finely in the law; I hope he will 
continue to do wel]. Araminta sends her love to you. Your 
affectionate brother, W. P. Fowler." 

"Clarksville, Republic of Texas, Jan. 8, 1839.— Dear 
Brother Littleton: Our campaign against the Indians has 
ended without effecting much, notwithstanding our forces 
were commanded by Gen. Rusk. It is to be hoped that our 
forces have terrorized the Indians into a temporary peace, 
at least. Gen. Rusk is now on a visit to the lower end of 
the county, but will return by the 14th inst. to attend a 
dinner to be given him here. The remarks of Sam Houston 
against Gen. Rusk have called down on the heads of the 
Cherokees the merited indignation of a patriotic people. 

"Immediately on aeljournment of our county court I shall 
visit you; I may accompany Gen. Rusk on his return home. 
Brother John has not returned from Congress yet; Jack is 
quite well and doing well. Brother Joseph has not arrived 
yet but is expected hourly. With love to my sister and 
yourself, your Ijrother affectionately, B. C. Fowler.'' 

"Steamboat Maria {?), Shreveport, La., May 19, 1839.— 
Dear Brother Littleton: I am this far on my way to New 
Orleans to purchase goods. I left my family and little 
Susan Clara well, but brother Bradford is in seriously low 
health and has been ever since my return from Houston ; and 
if I hope to see him alive on my return from this trip, it is 
hope against reason, for I am seriously apprehensive that 
he can not survive much longer. We have been looking for 
you and sister much of the sj^ring, and shall be glad to wel- 
come you both soon on that long visit so often promised. 
We are pleased at the prospect of peace on our borelers, and 
I believe we will have a great emigration this fall. May 
God bless you forever. Amen ! Your brother, J. H. Fowler." 
"Natchez, Miss., Dec. 9, 1839.— Mrs. M. M. Fowler: My 
Very Dear Wife.— AVe reached this place on the Sunday 
after we left you. The Mississippi swamp is not so bad as 



206 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

we liad anticipated. 1 have met with many okl and dear 
friends, to our mutual pleasure. On yesterday Mr. Thomas 
Wilson, my brother-in-law, reached here in company of one of 
his brothers, both on their way to Texas; they will leave to- 
morrow night for Natchitoches, thence on to San Augustine, 
where they will remain with you until my return. Brother 
Wilson is a most diffident man, although a most excellent one, 
as well as a kind husband to my sister. It is needle^^s to a(kl 
that I esteem him most higlily. 

'T am expecting brother Joseph at any iiioiiK'ni : he is on 
his way to Texas with several negroes for Itrotlier John, i 
am going to try to retain one with me for a year, at least. 
* * * Texas will get a good supply of preacliers this Con- 
ference. * * * My dear ^l., never in my Jifi- have 1 been 
so anxious to see you, my dear boy,'' and sweet babe [3Iary J. 
Kiss my child a thousand times for me. It is now only lifteen 
minutes of 11 o'clock at nighl. (iod Ijless you : good night. 
Your devoted husband, Littleton Fowler." 

''Princeton, l\y., Feb. T, 1840. — My Dear J3rotlier Liulc- 
ton : I fear my communications failed to reac-h you at 
Natchez; yours from there came duly to hand. 1 expected 
brother Joseph to see you there, as he left home with the 
intention of joining you there and accom})anying you to 
Texas. I have recently learned tliat he stopped at his farm 
in Miss., where his business detained him long enough to 
prevent his visit to our relatives in Texas. 1 presume you 
have had a visit from Thomas Wilson, as he also left home 
with the intention of going home with you. We all so much 
regret that you could not visit us while so near Kentucky, 
but look forward to the promised favor within the year. 

^'How^ do you sustain the i.ew relation of father? Do you 
not find it, together with husband, far preferable to all your 
boasted felicity of single blessedness? In my opinion, man 
never rises to his true dignity in the scale of his being or in 
society until he becomes the head of a family. * * * We 

''Symmes I'orter, his stepson. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 2o7 

are now reaping some of the fruits of Gen. Jackson^s policy 
in destroying the U. S. Bank and recommending those of 
State establishment. I believe the prospects are fair to 
break down the unholy dynasty in his unprincipled successor. 
The old farmer of North Bend, the x^merican Cincinnatus, 
is uniting the opposition. Under the auspices of his name 
a redeeming spirit is observed. 

"I have not heard for some time from our brothers on 
Red River. I fear Jack is not reading as he should, and 
giving his time to his practice with energetic force of pur- 
pose. Spur him up every chance you get. The last letter 
I had from Bradford he gay 3 me to understand that he was 
the Curran of the bar of that country, and never failed to 
make the natives stare and wonder at his powers. I hope 
there is something in it. Your brother affectionately, W. P. 
Fowler.^' 

"Republic of Texas, Red River County, Feb. U, 1840.— My 
Dear Brother : I have not written you for almost a twelve- 
month, my silence being caused by ill health, which remains 
yet, although much improved. Our good God sees that it 
is good for us to be afflicted so that we may be made to con- 
template the error of our way in life. Thank God my eyes 
have been opened, and notwithstanding I am prostrated on a 
bed of affliction, from which I may never rise, I have had 
precious time in which to make my peace with Him and 
obtain His forgiveness in prayer. my dear brother, could 
I but see you again and enjoy your society for a few days I 
would be much comforted. Could you spare the time from 
the Lord's work to make me a short visit, I should rejoice; 
if you do not come I will know that is the only reason. Our 
relatives are all well. Our cousin Alex Wright has professed 
religion and joined the Methodist church; he is a young man 
universally respected in this part of the country. I would 
be glad for you to write him a letter just at this time, and I 
know he would appreciate it deeply. I have been three days 
writing this. Brother, remember me in your prayers. God 
bless vou. Your brother, B. C. Fowler.'^ 



208 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

"Clarksville, Repuljlic of Texas, Sept. 2d, 1840.— My Dear 
Brother: It is with a joyful heart that I write you of my 
recent profession of faith at a Presbyterian camp-meeting on 
the Sulphur Fork (of the Trinity). It was a glorious meet- 
ing; many conversions and accessions to the church. My 
dear brother, I know that you will rejoice with me over the 
return of the prodigal son ; remember me daily in your 
prayers. Brother John is now at home. The latest news 
from Harrison County for a fortnight is most distressing — 
nothing but anarchy, confusion, and bloodshed. 1 fear Judge 
Hansford(?) has lost his life, as the latest intelligence re- 
ceived was to the effect that he was then in the hands of the 
mob. Have you visited the (ilenns at Fort Houston yet? I 
am not yet advised of my success or failure. "* 

'^Write to John Denton on the subject of religion; he is 
growing very wicked ; 1 feel ])ersiiaded tliat you could be 
instrumental in reclaiming liim. In your last letter I was 
happy to learn that sister Missouri had joined the church. 
Thank God ! I feel like all of us will go on board the old 
ship of Zion for our eternal home. May God be with you 
and bless you. Your brother affectionately, A. J. Fowler." 

"Princeton, Ky., Dec. 20, 1840.— My Dear Brother Little- 
ton : We are yet in the land of the living and enjoying a 
reasonable portion of the blessings of Providence, yet at the 
same time we are solicitous for the welfare and happiness of 
our kindred in distant Texas. My contemplated visit to you 
and the others this winter must be given up, as I am com- 
pelled to call a court in Hickman County for the trial of 
some criminals; this of course prevents my promised visit. 
Brother Joseph and his entire family are in Miss, on his 
farm and they will not return here before March, probably. 
I have not seen Thomas Wilson since his return from Texas; 
he and family are well. 

"We citizens of these United States have just passed 
through the most heated and excited political contest it has 

*He was then a suitor of Miss Martha Glenn, — and with success. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 209 

ever been my fortune to witness. My position prevented me 
from any active participation, though I confess I never 
wanted so much to take the stump; whenever I got a good 
chance in private circles I always endeavored to make up 
for all other limitations of speech by giving Yan a knock and 
^Old Tip' a lift. You have long ere this learned the result, 
no doubt, which, in my huml)le opinion, saved our govern- 
ment from being converted into a despotism. If the party 
in power had been sustained, together with the latitudinous 
construction of the prerogatives of the Executive depart- 
ment, both the Legislative laid Judicial would have had to 
yield to Executive supremacy and Presidential dictation; our 
government \Aould have been changed into an elective mon- 
archy — the worst of all governments. For the first time 
since the days of Jackson mania, our country has taken her 
stand on the side of correct principles; the majority of seven- 
teen which she gave Harrison was hailed with joy and an 
illumination of the town of Princeton. 

"I wish you could see your namesake; he is certainly the 
finest of boys and bids fair to make as handsome a man 
as his uncle, if not his father. Is your Mary sweet and 
interesting ? There is no person whom I would like so much 
to meet and to know as sister Missouri. By the way, since I 
come to think of it, she is related to our President-elect, is 
she not? I venture to say she w^as for Harrison, anyway. 
Tender to her a brother's love. Eeceive assurances of the 
heartfelt wish yor your happiness from your brother, W. P. 
Fowler.'' 

"Princeton, Ky., Feb. 25, 1841.— My Dear Brother: I 
wrote to you in Dec. and forwarded the letter by hand to Xew 
Orleans to be there delivered to the Texas agent ; I hope you 
received it. I regret extremely to learn of your failing health 
and that your labors are more and heavier than previously. 
If you were in Ky. this should not be, for I have means 
enough to render you assistance; we are all truly unhappy 
over it, and beg you to return to your home and kindred at 
once. Sister Polly Ann is with us at present and she feels the 

14 — Fowler. 



210 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

same anxiety J do. Brother Joseph and family^ exeept 
Elvira and Julia, are still in Miss, on his plantation. I have 
learned they have had bad health there during the winter, 
but Jo will risk such things to make money. 

"I have recently written brother Bradford in terms of 
severity, in reply to a letter of his in which he informs me 
that he has joined a company for the invasion of Mexico for 
the unholy purpose of plundering her stores and churches and 
dividing the spoils among themselves, as 1 understand it. If 
he gets my letter in time 1 think he will not go. Yon write 
brother John to prevent him if possible. He does not realize 
the disgrace and crime of a filibuster warfare, and in the 
name of all that is holy he inust be restrained from going. 
Araminta sends love imd unites with me her pleadings for 
your immediate return to Ky. We all send love to sister with 
the hope that she will agree with us in urging your return to 
us. I pray Heaven to restore you to health and to us. Affec- 
tionately your brother, W. P. Fowler."" 

"Hall of the Plouse of Representatives, Austin, Hcpiil)lic 
of Texas, Dec. 6, 1841. — My Dear Brother Littleton: 1 send 
by the Eev. Mr. Haynie this short letter simply to let you 
know that 1 am well but most heartily tired of so much 
legislation. 1 find my associations here so different from 
any thing 1 had anticipated I am almost tempted to say I 
am disgusted with our statesmanship, for everything seems 
to be effected by intrigue and nothing by honest means. I 
shall endeavor to discharge my honest duty to my con- 
stituents, with the pious hope that I may never be called on 
to serve the dear people again in the capacity of a member 
of the Texas Congress. I am heartily sick of it all ; I do not 
believe it is worth the anguish of spirit necessary to combat 
an always unscrupulous majority. 

"If Congress does not remain too long in session I hope 
to pay you a visit at its close, but I seriously fear it will 
continue to squander time in useless legislation, to the great 
expense and detriment of the Eepublic. If I fail to go to see 
you, however, you will understand that a lovely young wife 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 211 



is awaiting my home-comi ug, with — perhaps — a beautiful, 
smiling babe.^ Under these circumstances I know you will 
readily excuse me. I would send you some Congressional 
documents if the parson could carry them. Your affection- 
ate brother, A. J. Fowler.'' 

"Princeton, Ky., Dec. 8, 1841.— Mrs. Missouri M. Fowler: 
My Dear Sister. — A^erbal information has just reached me to 
the effect that my dear brother Littleton is no more. The 
length of time which has elapsed since 1 last heard from 
him, together wdth the knowledge of his failing health, 
doubles the fear that the painful report may be too true, 
though I pray Heaven it is a mistake. I have not written 
him for several months for the reason that we have been 
expecting you both in Ky. at any time, while he journeyed on 
his way to general confereu'-e. Brother Jackson wrote me 
in Sept. and he was then under the impression that you both 
were in Ky. at that time. I have received a paper from 
him also since his arrival in Austin in attendance on Con- 
gress; the paper bore date of Xov. 30, and contained the 
President's message. 1 have had no other news from him; 
I know he would have written me had he heard the same news 
of brother Littleton. Be so good as to write me without 
delay, for I am extremely anxious over the intelligence. 

"In my last letter I urged upon my brother the propriety of 
his returning to this country; I also made propositions to 
him toward making his situation in life more comfortable 
than it could ever be there, with his failing health and in- 
creasing labors. If he is not living we are solicitous regard- 
ing you and are anxious to render you any assistance in our 
power; we desire most earnestly that you will come and live 
among us; either brother Joseph or I will go to Texas and 

°Such was then really the case, but the news had not reached 
the expectant father. Little Clara was so tiny mat she had to be 
held on a pillow, and the girl-mother (only sixteen) was so ashamed 
of her dwarf baby she hid it behind the door when she saw her lord 
and its father returning from the seat of the nation, flushed with 
early honors and the eager expectation of young fatherhood. I will 
add that the congressional honors were never repeated, but those 
of fatherhood were many times. 



212 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

return with you, if you consent to come. I saw Mr. Joseph 
Gray, of Frankfort, a few days ago when he informed me 
that Miss Caroline, Mrs. Taylor,^ and your mother had hut 
recently returned from Ohio to spend the winter in Frank- 
fort. Think of our painful suspense and let us hear from 
you immediately. Your brother affectionately, W. P. 
Fowler/^ 

"Princeton, Ky., Feb. 26, 1842.— My Dear Brother Little- 
ton: Your more than welcon^ie letter of Dec. 29, came duly 
to hand, together with yours written last Aug. ; the later 
relieved us from the most trying suspense occasioned by the 
report which reached us that you were dead. I rejoice to 
know that you are yet among the living; also, tluit you have 
been spared to see the day when you can claim me as a brother 
in Christ as well as one accoi ding to the law of consanguinity. 
On the 14th inst., during a protracted meeting held by the 
Methodists, C. Presbyterians, and Episcopalians, I made a 
profession of faith in the pardoning love of the Son of God. 
Eejoice with me, my brother, and pray that I may be faithful 
unto the end. Yoiu own feelings will suggest more to you 
than I can write on this subject. Thos. Wilson has also 
united with the Methodist church, with sister Polly Ann. It 
is needless to inform you that is the denomination of my 
choice. Brother Joseph is much interested also. 

"No doubt you have seen ere this the intense excitement 
occasioned in the U. S. hy th_^ disastrous results of the Santa 
Fe Expedition; we have just learned that young Combs, 
Kendall, and others of our American citizens have been 
liberated by Santa Anna; had this not been done I have no 
doubt but that immediate hostilities would have been the 
consequences. We are looking for you and your family and 
praying for your permanent btay among us, your Ky. friends 
and relatives. You must come to my home at once. Hoping 

•^Mrs. James Taylor, formerly Miss Louisiana Loekwood, of New- 
port, Ky. 




MRS. DOROTHY ( FOWLER ) GIBBONS, PARIS, TEXAS. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 213 



to see you soon, — may heaven bless you and yours. Affection- 
ately, W. P. Fowler/^' 

"Texas, Panola County, near the Lake, March 22, 1842.— 
My Dear Missouri: 1 have met with Brother Crawford by 
going five miles out of my way, so he could hand you this 
as he passes San Augustine. I have been much fatigued by 
hard riding the last three days and with Dobbin's lazy, rough 
traveling, added to feeble health. Saturday I reached the 
home of my old Alabama friends and remained with them 
until Monday. I shall be able to reach Clarksville in two 
or three days more. I have taken dinner with a pleasant 
family with which I may decide to spend the night, for an- 
other half -day would take me to the haunts of old Kose ( ?), 
'the Lion of the Lake.' I hear he has given himself up and 
is now in the hands of our civil authorities, but I am not 
anxious to make the acquaintance of any of his confederates. 
Do not feel alarmed about invading Mexicans, as I judge it 
is only a marauding banditti who have taken San Antonio. 
Do not let any man living have 'Old Plumper' until the 
Mexicans cross the Attoyac. May God bless you and take 
care of you. Littleton Fowler.'' 

"Republic of Texas, Sabine County, Feb. 3, 1843.— Col. 
J. H. Fowler : Dear Brother John. — This will be handed you 
by the Rev. John C. Wool am, who is the young preacher 
appointed to the Lamar Mission which is to be formed south- 
west of Clarksville. You will find him a gentleman worthy 
of all confidence, and of course you and your family will 
receive him and treat him as a brother and friend. He has 
lived in my family more than a year, and I have as much 
confidence in him as in any man. I am writing in a great 
hurry, for I have to start at once for a doctor for my step- 

"It is interesting to note the back of this letter, which is marked 
"Paid $1.50. Steamship Neptune," showing the cost and precaution 
necessary to get a letter to Texas in 1842. Judge Fowler often 
emphasized the fact that he sent his letters to Texas by the hand 
of some friend going by steamboat to New Orleans, who was to 
hand in person to the Texas agent, who would in turn send it on 
its way if accompanied by a good price. 



214 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

son (Symmes Porter), and one is not to be found nearer than 
sixty or seventy miles. Symmes has been long and sorely 
afflicted with the dropsy; lie has not walked since fonr 
months past. Our relations in Kentucky are all well; brother 
Joseph intends to be at your house this month or next; he 
will either come or go by. Missouri joins me in love to you 
and famil}^, also to Bradford and Jackson. I want to write 
pages, but have time now for only this hasty scrawl. God 
bless you. Your brother, Littleton Fowler." 

"Pin Hook, Lamar County, Texas, June 5, 1843. — My Dear 
Brother Littleton: Shortly after you left I moved in to 
Pin Hook [now Paris] and took charge of the school, which 
can be made profitable if thi- money can be collected. Xow, 
in answer to your proposition regarding the establishment of 
a college^ under the Methodist influence at San Augustine, 
it depends on wdiat salary I could get. It would be gratifying 
to me to live near you so our families could enjoy each 
others^ society, but 1 am not partial to your section of the 
Kepublic and less so to the character of society about San 
Augustine; there may be a change for the better since I 
knew it. 1 wonder that the church should want the college 
located there. You say our section of country labors under 
the disadvantages of no navigation; 1 do not see that yours 
is any better in that respect. 

"Ten days ago 1 prosecuted a man for an attempt to poison 
a whole family — neighbors of mine — by putting arsenic in 
the steel mill used for grinding their meal. I conducted the 
prosecution with greater strength than ever before, — it was 
as good as I ever heard deposed in a court of justice, — yet 
the court failed to bind him over to the district court for 
want of sufficient testimony. There was no positive proof, 
yet the chain of circumstantial evidence was the strongest 
possible. The escaped criminal, who has had restored to 
him all the privileges of respectable citizenship, now threat- 

®He was made Professor of Ancient Languages; the institution 
was called Wesleyan College. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 215 

ens my life,'-^ and I must confess that my apprehensions are 
insufferable, because he is the kind of a coward who would 
always stab a man in the back under cover of the dark. I 
even sleep with my weapons at hand. He knows I am con- 
stantly on my guard. I now think that my family and self 
will be at your home by Nov. : also, that Brad and I shall yet 
secure that leviathan filly. Our love to yourself and family. 
Your brother, A. J. Fowler.*' 

'Tin Hook, Lamar County, June 3, 18^3. — Dear Brother 
Littleton: I have just returned from the great country of 
Arkansas; I passed over the same road you traveled and just 
behind you all the way to Washington. I heard that you 
came very near losing your horse — and perhaps your life — in 
the quicksands of the Red Eiver. I have just finished a 
week's hard labor in defending a poor fellow — privately, I 
believe him to be the most depraved of creatures — on a 
charge of attempted poisoning. No circumstance has caused 
so much excitement in our vicinity. Jack did his duty to 
the Republic and made a strong and able prosecution, but I 
succeeded in having the charge dismissed and in the release 
of a most dangerous character who ought to have been hung ; 
but this is law. * * * Present my warmest esteem to 
sister. I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you both in 
your home very soon. May Heaven bless you both. Truly 
and sincerely. Brad C. Fowler.'^ 

"Princeton, Ky., Aug. 10, 1843.— My Dear Brother Little- 
ton: This leaves all our family in good health, with the 
exception of brother and sister Wilson, who are a little under 
the weather. Your letter dated in last spring and one from 
sister Missouri of last month to Willie [Wiley] and Araminta 
were read to me wdth deep interest, especially that relating 
to your stepson and my poor twin brother John, whose 
earthly happiness seems to bo at an end. Oh how changed 
are our earthly aspirations ! How firm and steadfast we 

"The desperado did enter the home of my father one night with 
the intention of murdering him, but when he found his intended 
victim prepared to receive him, he fled like the coward he was. 



216 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

should Ijo in our affections in things eternal; we should put 
our trust in God, then then^ would be no disappointments. 
Elvira (his daughter) is married to E. B. Snelling, of Mis- 
souri, who is an entire stranger to me, only that he is the 
son of Yincent Snelling, formerly of this county, Init now 
living in Platte County, Mo., which is in the northwestern 
part of that State. Brother Thomas Wilson will probably 
move there this coming fall. * * =^ I ean not close this 
letter without telling you of the profession of religion by 
your namesake in my family; it was at a camp-meeting on 
Bird Creek, in Trigg County, when Littleton's profession 
was clear and strong. Help me to thank and praise God for 
His mercies to me and mine. I am endeavoring to live more 
humble and more devoted to the religion of Christ than in 
many years. Pray for me. Should we never see each other 
again in this world I hope to meet you in Heaven, for through 
grace I hot)e to get there. Your brother, J. W. Fowler.'' 
(Joseph AYright Fowler.) 

"At Shelton's, Lamar County, Tex., Sept. 1, 1843. — Dear 
Brother Littleton: I have been very anxious to see you 
again to enjoy that brotherly society I so often crave, espe- 
cially of a brother fond and true, who has stood up for me 
through thick and thin and sustained my sinking spirits, as 
you have always done. Jackson is a friendly cold comforter, 
while Bradford tends to disconsole me; you alone can soothe 
me with the affection I need. I am living at Mr. Shelton's; 
his friendship is highly valued by me. After the coming 
session of court I may visit in Kentucky awhile. Till death, 
yours, J. H. Fowler.'' This letter is quite a long one, filled 
with a business scheme to get his brother Littleton to live 
with him on some lands near the mouth of the Trinity, also 
with allusions to his great trouble, — the separation of him- 
self and wife, who were never reconciled. His daughter 
Susan Clara and his son John Littleton grew up to be a 
great comfort to him; he lived with his daughter until 
death parted them. He died in ripe old age, — October 12, 
1873, — as stated elsewhere. His wife resumed the name of 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 217 

Alexander, that of her former husband and her first children. 
She visited her daughter — then Mrs. Peterson — in Paris, 
after the death of Colonel Fowler, whom she survived some 
3^ears. 

The comparatively early deatli of the Rev. Littleton Fowler 
was as great a loss to his own family as it is possible to con- 
ceive, for they all in a measure leaned on him and looked to 
him for fatherly counsel and loving advice. His was the 
flawless life of a Christian that could stand the scrutiny of 
every day association in the family circle. 

^Tlarksville, Texas, Sept. 29, 1843.— Dear Brother Little- 
ton : I hasten to inform you of the final decision of the 
court this morning, which relieves me of that almost in- 
supportable suspense which has oppressed me twelve months. 
The madam is to have all she brought into the firm, but I 
am to have my children. I look upon it as a righteous de- 
cision.^^ This is followed up immediately by another brief 
letter dated October, 1843: 

"Dear Brother: Mr. Shelton will deed one half of the 
farm near Clarksville to my two little children as a gift. I 
have been in council with him and others of my friends, when 
it was decided that their mother, although divested of every 
claim, is to remain there and take care of the children; 
under no circumstances is she to take them back to Arkansas. 
She was so pleased with this arrangement that she now says 
she will never again speak evil of me to the children, or 
anyone else. In haste — farewell. J. H. Fowler." The 
children did not remain with their mother very long, how- 
ever, for their father took them with him and kept them 
ever afterward. 

"Bowie County, Texas, Oct. 15, 1843.— My Very Dear 
Missouri : I am at my second camp-meeting since leaving 
home, which lovely retreat is about 175 miles distant from 
me now. I have visited our relatives ; John is divorced from 
his rib; the court gave her the property she had when she 
married him; to him it gave his children and all of his own 
property at marriage. My poor brother has suffered greatly 



218 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

in what lie lia;s borne, but he seems now greatly comforted. 
Brother Jack and family wijl be at our house by the lime 1 
return home; they go to visit her family; they have only one 
ehild now. He thinks of moving to Marshall to take charge 
of the school there, which 1 heartily approve. Brother 
Chisholm and family'" are now on this camp-ground; this 
country seems to agree finely with Alabama. I often pray 
for my little family, their Ik alth and happiness. My love 
to Symmes and the little (Uies. Adieu, my dear .M. Uod 
bless you. Your husband, Littleton Fowler." 

^'Marshall, Texas, Feb. l(i, 1844.— My Dear Missouri: L 
arrived here safe and found brother Jack and household gods 
here, with his sister-in-law, ^'rs. Gresham, a lady with wdiom 
I am much pleased; she will have charge of the female de- 
partment of the school, which will begin next month. Jack 
has fine prospects for a school. His wife is still at her 
fathers; she has a fine hoy (Nathan Godfrey), aiid both 
mother and babe are doing well, ^ly health and fiesh are 
hotli on the increase; my coat is getting too small for me; 
whenever 1 eat I am constantly made to blush at the enormity 
of my appetite. I much admire this place for its beauty, 
health, and good water, witli its fair prospects; then it is 
only fourteen miles from the point of regular navigation on 
the lake. I wish to place Symmes here this coming w^inter 
for a year of study, at least, with brother Jackson. He 
asks to send his love to yon and the children. I preached here 
last night to a deeply attentive congregation, many standing 
through the entire discourse for want of seats. My love to 
Synnnes, kiss my dear children for me, God bless you, my 
dear wife. Your husband, Littleton Fowler/^ 

"New Orleans, Apr. 2, 1844. — My Dear Missouri : I 
reached this place last night by steamer without misfortune 
or alarm; met Brother Clark,^^ who got in Saturday; he 
has already engaged our passage on the American Eagle, a 

^"Old friends. 

"A co-delegate from Texas to the General Conference. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 219 

fine, large boat only two years old. This evening I learned 
that Louisiana [his wife's sister] is at the St. Charles, in 
company of Mr. Joel Baker, to whom she was married the 
Sunday before I left home. I have called on them since 
supper. He is a plain-looking man, who, I suspect, wears a 
wig [as did the Eev. Fowler]. He is an old beau of Marians; 
he is a merchant of Warsaw, Ky. This is a city of much 
noise and stir, of which I am heartily tired after my twenty- 
four hours' stay. I would be much better contented at home, 
or with my rifle in the w^ood^ over on the Tebo, than in this 
celebrated city. I have met many old acquaintances and 
shall no doubt meet others on their way as delegates to the 
general conference. 

"Brother Joseph's father-in-law is here; he tells me that 
sister Ginsey is very low and has been ever since the birth of 
her babe some time last month. I heard of brother Willie a 
few days ago; he was then at Paducah; he was about to 
dismiss court in consequence of the prevalence of small-pox 
and a disease called the black tongue^- in that section. All 
of your brother x4nthony's (Lockwood) family — Kate and 
the children — have had the small-pox. I find I shall have 
time to call on your relatives and get to New York in ample 
time for conference. I shall not visit my kindred until my 
return in May. My love to Symmes, kiss my dear children 
for me, and tell them that father will take them something 
when he goes home. Grod bless you. Your devoted husband, 
Littleton Fowler." 

"Steamer American Eagle, Miss. Eiver, 30 miles below 
Memphis, Apr. 8, 1844. — My Dear M. : My health remains 
good, but Brother Clark is still indisposed and keeps to his 
room. I trust that you have set up your altar of prayer, 
where you will pray night and morning with our children, 
remembering your absent husband in such fervent prayers as 
I know come from your heart and will be heard in Heaven. 
We have a goodly company of fellow-passengers, who are 

"The cholera. 



22(j ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

quite respectable. I preached to them on yesterday — Sunday 
— at the request of the captain and some of the travelers 
through him ; they all seemed to listen with interest. Brother 
C. was too unwell to assist me. Though I do not intend to 
write you a love-letter, yet 1 do say in my heart that for 
months past I have loved you more fondly and tenderly than 
in any period since I have known you. I have thought all 
along that my attachment to you could not be greater, but 
I find 1 have been mistaken. This paragraph is for your 
own eye and heart ; should others see it I would be pronounced 
silly and childish. I have written a long letter to my cousin 
John W. Fowler at Memphis. I wrote you before leaving 
New Orleans of sister Ginsey's death; she left a babe two 
weeks old. Mr. Gray, her father, showed me the letter con- 
taining the sad news. My poor brother Joseph ! In such 
cases I do not know whether it is better to live or to die, 
when the other is no more.^^ My dear children — do they 
often speak of father? Tell them that father prays for 
them and mother every day. May God bless you. Your 
devoted husband, Littleton F." 

"Smithland, Ky., Apr. 12, 1844.— My Dear Brother Little- 
ton : I was more than anxious to see you on your way north ; 
I remained in town several days on purpose to see you as you 
passed up, but I happened to go out home the very night you 
came by. Brother Joseph has been to see us since his great 
bereavement; he is greatly afflicted, but he tries to become 
resigned. I hope you are making your plans to return to Ky. 
to live out your days. Furthermore, I hope the general con- 
ference will adjust the slavery question; let me hear from 
3^ou as soon as anything transpires on that subject, as I am 

^■^Their sister Ginsey died March 25. 1844, and her mourning hus- 
band soon followed her to the better land. The date of his death 
I have been unable to learn; it is elsewhere stated in a family letter 
that it was within three months of the death oi his wife's. His 
family was remarkably delicate and short-lived in consequence of 
inherited pulmonary weakness, which must have come from the Gray 
family, as the Texas branches of the Fowlers have no trace of lung 
trouble, except in acquired consumption, which is unusual with 
them also. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 221 

regarding it with fearful apprehensions. I am afraid it will 
agitate profoundh^ our beloved church. Our brothers of the 
North do not understand the situation, therefore they can not 
appreciate it. They look upon slavery as an evil which will 
eventually bring calamity down on our nation, while we 
regard emancipation as equally calamitous to the South. 
Emancipation without the removal of the negro race will 
ultimately result in the complete extermination of one of 
the two races. I pray Heaven to direct aright our church on 
this subject. May you have grace to take you through what 
is before you, is the prayer of your brother, W. P. Fowler." 

"Cincinnati, 0., April 15, 1844.— My Very Dear Mis- 
souri : The kind providence of God has granted me a safe 
and pleasant journey to this city, w^here I arrived two days 
ago. I wrote you a double letter from Natchitoches, two or 
three from Xew Orleans, one on the boat near Memphis, — 
all of which I hope you have received. In Louisville I called 
on your sister Matilda Honore, whom I found in wretched 
health. Henry, her son, will quit the law and give his atten- 
tion to the store. On Saturday I took the stage for Hamilton 
(Ohio), reaching there about dusk; I found Mother Symmes, 
Americus and family all well; I preached there. Mother S. 
came with me in the stage and will take the packet in the 
morning for Louisville to visit Matilda, whom she has not 
seen in seven years. She promised me to visit you next 
winter, taking ^latilda or Maria with her. Your sister Mar- 
tha has been gone about two weeks to visit her son in Mis- 
souri, hence I shall not see her unless by accident. 

"From all I am able to learn I truly fear Texas will not 
be annexed to the U. S., the slave States all being opposed 
to it. In the morning I shall take the packet for Wheeling 
or Pittsburg. I think it likely I shall go by Washington 
City in company of delegates from Ky. and 111. The outlook 
is a stormy time coming in the conference on the slavery 
question. I am trying to possess my soul in patience. Your 
brother John (half-brother, John Cleve Symmes) is still at 
West Point and will not graduate until next June a year. He 



222 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

is the idol of his motlier's heart. Maria^"* is much clianged 
and speaks of entering a convent in Saint Louis. God save 
her from such a fate ! I would rather see her dead. 

"Brother Willie was holding court in Smithland; when 
our boat passed, before day, 1 learned he was sleeping aljout 
sixty yards from the landing on purpose to see me; I ran 
there w^ith a lantern, but found no one but Judge Campbell ; 
he said Willie had gone out to his home only that evening. 
Both of the Givens and their wives have joined the Methodist 
church, Avith many other influential citizens of Smithlaiul. 
I shall write you from Xew York. ^ly love to Symmes; kiss 
my dear children and tell them I think of them and pray for 
them every day. God bless you. Your devoted husband, 
Littleton Fowler." 

"Baltimore, Md., April 2;?, 1844.— My Dear M. : From 
the time we left Wheeling to this Monumental City I traveled 
over the most romantic and uiouiitainous country I ever saw. 
At Harper^s Ferry the mighty mountains towered grandly 
above the railway, presenting a scene of awful sublimity. 
Tlio cars passed through several tunnels, one more than 400 
yards in length, wlien wo were enveloped in midnight dark- 
ness. * * * J attended church yesterday, morning and 
cveniug, and I was struck with the apparent hciilth of the 
people, especially the women. I took note of the dress of the 
ladies for your benefit ; most of them wore plain silk bonnets 
like the one you had made in Ky. and took to Texas.^-'^ To- 
morrow we shall go to Washington to remain more than a 
day, retuiTiing to this place, whence we shall proceed to 
N. Y. via Philadelphia. 

"Maria Lockwood was a Kentucky belle for many seasons. At 
length, when her affections had become seriously involved, her lover 
was killed in a duel : hence this change arid sad determination, 
which she never carried out. She never married, but lived to a ripe 
old age. I have two old friends in Texas who were young girls in 
Cincinnati at the time of "Maria's" bellehood. 

^^See the humanity of the devout man. No niatter if his wife was 
leading the life of a woman missionary in remote wilds, he knew she 
would like to hear how the women of the great world she had left 
were dressing, so he made notes of fashion accordinglv. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 223 

^'The treaty for the annexation of Texas has been signed 
b}' the President of the U. S. and the ministers of the Repub- 
lic, but it is still doubtful whether the Senate will ratify it. 
May God speed the cause and bring it to a happy issue. I 
hope to see Gen. Henderson [his San Augustine neighbor 
and friend] and Mr. Van Zandt [Texas ministers]. 

"I have just returned from the Nation's capital and shall 
endeavor to finish this epistle. While in W. I met many 
friends from many parts of the South, together with many 
distinguished men of our country. The capitol is the finest 
edifice I ever saw. The Patent Office is the old curiosity shop 
of America. I failed to see Gen. Henderson, as I could not 
find his abode. I very much fear Texas will not be annexed 
this session. The Senate is a dignified body, while the 
House is a howling mob, the most uproarious and disorderly 
parliamentary assembly I ever saw. Just as we reached the 
door of the House a pistol was fired; the explanation was 
that two members were fighting, when a stranger was pushed 
through the door by two other members, the expelled man 
firing his pistol at his assailants and wounding one man, 
though not seriously. The proceedings of the House are a 
disgrace to our country. I saw more disorder there in one 
hour than in both houses of the Texas Congress during the 
two years I served them as chaplain. While all of this 
is interesting, my home, my home in Texas, has more 
endearing charms than all the world. How I wish myself 
in the bosom of my family at this moment. Your devoted 
husband, Littleton Fowler." 

"New York, May 8, 1844.— My Dear Wife: I rejoice that 
your last letter brings the comforting assurances that you 
are all well; it is to me a source of much comfort that you 
pray night and morning with my children; this is to me the 
strongest earthly reason to hope that my life and health will 
be preserved until I again see my loved ones. The bishops 
are all here in health, with nearly two hundred delegates from 
the conferences of the U. S. We have had some fine speeches 
and many very poor ones. The prospects are for a long ses- 



224 ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

sion, and my stay from home will be the more protracted. 
There are five standing committees, and I am on three of 
them, which keeps me very hard worked. I have preached 
twice in this London of America. I may see things in a 
gloomy light, but it is my firjn conviction that the ]\Iethodist 
church will be broken in twain, — Virginia, Kentucky, and the 
Southern States one part, all the Northern States the other. 
If by a sacrifice of my own life I could prevent this calam- 
itous result, 1 would die without tver seeing my family again. 
My poor heart is almost broken and my only relief is in 
tears. There is much excitement among the members and 
it is daily increasing, with fearful apprehensions entertained 
by all. We may be here until some days in June. My love 
to Symmes, kiss our little ones. 'Bishop' (little Littleton) 
is talking finely by now? Pray for your husband, Littleton 
Fowler.'" 

''Apr. 21, 1845 (at brother Willie's, State of Ky.).— My 
Dear M. : I arrived here late yesterday evening on the 
Ambassador, a fine boat which I came up on from the mouth 
of Eed Eiver. I declined going by New Orleans, as it would 
give me less time to spend with my relatives here in Ky. 
Brother Willie's family is well; he left Paducah just one 
hour before I got there; he is to be gone four or five wrecks; 
I fear I shall not see him at all. To-day I shall start out to 
go to see Brother and Sister Wilson [his sister Polly Ann 
and her husband, Thomas B.], in company of my nephew 
Littleton [Joseph's son], who is now working in the store of 
Henry Given, of Smithland. It grieves me to learn that 
brother Joseph^s estates w^ere much involved; it will not be 
worth more than $2000 or $3000 when all is settled. This 
admonishes me to owe no man anything but good will. Ara- 
minta [Joseph^s daughter], is living with brother Willie; 
two of the other children are with sister Polly Ann; one 
with Elvira, in Mo. ; and the others are with the Grays. 

"Many of my old friends in this part of the world are no 
more. This is the thirteenth day since I left home, you, and 
the dear children. Everv cvenins^ since I left vou I have 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 225 

looked on the setting sun with emotion, for it is toward the 
west where my loved ones are; the}' are more dear to me 
than all this world beside. Kiss the children for me. Tell 
Mary to pray for her father every day. Tell Littleton to be 
a good boy, mind his mother, and love his sister. Tell 
Symmes to be studious, and, if he surpass any in his classes, 
I shall give him a handsome present after the examination. 
God bless you. Your devoted husband, Littleton Fowler." 

"Natchitoches, Louisiana, Nov. 6, 1845. — Rev. Littleton 
Fowler: My Dear Brother. — I have hoped for the pleasure 
of visiting you and your interesting family while returning 
from this trip, but circumstances will prevent. Our case 
has not yet come up and I am not able to tell now whether 
it will be disposed of during this term of court. The bar 
here seems courteous to attorneys from our foreign govern- 
ment. I shall be able to appear as the attorney in the case, 
with no doubt of ultimate success. 

"Cousin George (Wright) and I both will be compelled to 
return through Arkansas to attend to some matters connected 
with the business there. I am in fine health, but tired to 
death with this den of perdition, the chief of vice and im- 
morality; even more wicked than when I first visited it 
fifteen years ago. If I am permitted to see Mary Ann [his 
wife] any time soon, I shall never again remain so long 
absent from her. This I wrote to her yesterday. Believe 
me, your brother affectionately, Brad C*. Fowler." 

This is the last one of the letters to the Rev. Littleton 
Fowler. He passed to his heavenly reward on January 29, 
1846, in his forty-fourth year, wept and mourned for as none 
but good and generous men are lamented. His years were 
few, but 

"We live in aeeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths. 
We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives 
Who thinks most, leels 'he most, acts the best." 

According to his deeds his life was long and glorious. 
May we, his blood and kindred, never forget his loving heart, 

15 -- Fowler. 



226 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

his gentle spirit, his practical Christianity. He and his life 
have occupied more of these records, from the fact that his 
writings and his letters from kindred are my sources of 
information. His wife was a methodical woman, and she 
saved everything in the fond belief that historians to come 
would value such material in a written life of the missionary 
to the Republic of Texas. "The Life and Letters of Littleton 
Fowler, a Missionary to the Republic of Texas," will follow 
this family record, prepared by the compiler of this work. It 
will embrace the early history of the Methodist church in 
Texas. 

The year 1846, to which we have arrived in the family 
letters, finds the lamented Fowler dead, his brother Joseph 
and wife, of Princeton, preceding him in death more than a 
year. The youngest brother was living in San Augustine and 
teaching in the Wesleyan College, which institution was the 
cherished fruit of the early labors of his missionary brother. 
The following extracts are from the letter of a Mrs. Tabor, 
a neighbor and friend from San Augustine, who was visit- 
ing in Kentucky: 

"Mrs. M. M. Fowler. — ^^My Dear Sister Fowler: I hardly 
know how to address you since I have heard of the death of 
our beloved brother Fowler. His last letter to me lies open 
before me and I have wept over it. * * * T was at a 
camp-meeting in this county (Trigg) when 1 met his sister, 
Mrs. Wilson, and her husband last Sabbath, We had a long 
talk and wept together. She says she is determined to go 
to see you, her brother Jack and sister Martha (Jack's 
wife). I intend to visit her if possible before I leave the 
State. They are building a large house on the road about 
half a mile from the one they now occupy. She has two of 
her brother Joe's children (boys) with her. She says for 
you to kiss Mary and the Bishop for her. Tell your brother 
Jack to write to me and tell me all the news, literary, re- 
ligious, and political. Give my love to Mrs. Sexton and 
Mrs. Henderson [two old friends of the family in San 
Augustine]. May God mercifullv soothe vour broken heart. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 227 

Truly your friend^ Frances V. Tabor."* Dated September 27, 
1846, Empire Iron Works, Trigg County, Kentucky. 

Bradford C. Fowler's letters come to an end here; he is 
personally lost sight of in these records. The surviving 
members of the family, my aged mother among them, say 
that he went to California during the gold fever, but I have 
failed in my endeavors to find the exact year of his departure 
from Texas, the part of California he went to, or where he 
died there, and when. He left no children, hence this ap- 
parent lack of interest in him by his brothers and their 
families. 

One fact has particularly impressed me in my researches 
in these family letters, that is, the most important ones on 
the death of a member are usually missing. I have con- 
cluded that they must have been passed on to other relatives 
— by hand — and never returned to the original recipient. The 
following is to a particular friend of the Fowler family who 
lived in San Augustine, Texas, and it seems to have been 
handed the Avidow of the late Littleton Fowler, who re- 
tained it: 

'^Mr. F. B. Sexton. — My Dear Sir: I received your kind 
favour left for me at this place, and I regret much that I did 
not have the pleasure of a personal interview with you. In 
compliance with my sister-in-law's request I have made 
certain arrangements to purchase a slab for my brother L.'s 

grave. I have written to Frankfort, to Messrs. S 

[illegible] and Baker, to select a suitable one, — I directed 
the inscription, — which they w^ould forward to some house in 
Louisville near the steamboat landing, so you can get it on 
vour return. There are no tombstones cut in our vicinity; I 
made the selection of this stone because it is the product of 
his beloved Kentucky. I have already written sister Missouri 
the particulars. I need not say that I feel great anxiety for 
its safe conveyance to Texas. Next to my own I feel a greater 
solicitude for my lamented brother's family, their necessary 
comforts, and an education for the two children. I do not 
know brother Jackson's financial circumstances, but I know 



228 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

he will do all he can to aid aud comfort his brother's stricken 
family. My court duties for the spring term will probably 
terminate in time for me to see you on your return by 
Smithland; if so, I shall endeavor to accompany you some 
distance in order to learn more of the particulars of my 
brother's death. Adieu. Yours truly, W. P. Fowler." Dated 
April 18, 184G, Smithland, Xy. 

The wife of Judge W. P. Fowler, Esther Araminta 
(Given), died July 1, 184T, but the letter conveying any 
such intelligence to Mrs. M. M. Fowler is missing. There is 
a long break from 18-iG to IS-tU, and we take up the personal 
extracts in a letter from Colonel J. H. Fowler of Paris, Texas, 
which brings postal history down to envelopes, as this letter 
is not sealed with wax or addressed on the blank page always 
left for the superscription. How much sooner envelopes 
appeared in Texas 1 have no means of knowing just now. 
Colonel Fowler had been on a visit to his sister-in-law, who 
was by this time Mrs. John C. Woolam, having married the 
Eev. Littleton Fowler's i)rotcge, who was another Methodist 
preacher. 

"Lamar County, Tex., ^lay 15, 1841). — My Dear Sister: 
On my return home 1 wrote you a long description of my 
trip, which was not unpleasant considering the disagreeable 
season. 1 have just received a letter from brother Willie, 
in answer to the one I wrote him from your house, in which 
he confirms the report we had heard, that of his marriage to 
Mrs. Barnett, a most excellent lady, a childless widow ; for 
the latter fact he should be most warmly congratulated. 

* * * My children are doing particularly well at school. 

* * * The California fever has desolated our part of the 
country, with many abandojied farms in the land. I wish 
success to those who go to seek gold, but I do not believe 
in it. Your Ijrother, J. H. Fowler." 

"Smithland, Ky., Feb. IT, 1851.— Mrs. M. M. Woolam: 
My Dear Sister. — I freely confess my great negligence of 
you and my other relatives >ince the death of my wife. I 
was so troubled and so immersed in business affairs, which 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 229 



called my attention from everything else. I am still living 
near Smitliland, where I may continue to reside the re- 
mainder of my life. Dickson, my oldest son, is in the mer- 
cantile business with his uncle Augustus Given, in Paducah; 
Joseph is in business with H. F. Given in Smithland; Dick- 
son has been at Cincinnati some time finishing his education. 
James Whyte, Augustus, and Willie are all with us at home 
and going to school; they are all promising boys. * * * 
Where is brother Jack? Have you seen or heard from my 
other hrothers lately? [This leads one to infer that Brad- 
ford was then living.] Though a stranger to me, please 
tender Brother Woolam my warmest fraternal feelings. My 
dear sister, forgive me and write to me immediately. Ever 
your affectionate brother, W. P. Fowler." 

The following is from the same writer to the same re- 
cipient, and is dated June 17, 1851, Smithland, Ky. : "Dur- 
ing last summer, when the great compromise question was 
pending in Congress and involved in so much doubt, I fixed 
upon some place in Texas for a refuge for me and mine when 
the storm should burst. Xow I trust this national trouble 
has passed over, although I confess that the signs of the 
times still fill me with grave apprehensions. * * * We 
have had the cholera among us this season ; among its victims 
in Princeton was Mr. Gray, brother Joseph's father-in-law. 

"]^Iy two eldest sons are in business for themselves. Dick- 
son is below medium height; Joseph will be large and of 
fine personal appearance; White, Littleton, and Willie are 
with us; Willie is small and extremely delicate; I fear we 
shall never raise him. Brother Joseph's oldest son (Little- 
ton) married a few days ago m Miss (Harriet) Love, of Nash- 
ville; she is finely accomplished and of a reputable family. 
You remember my wife, who was Mrs. Barnett when she 
called on you when you were visiting Mr. A. D. Given. You 
should remember her as a sensible, agreeable lady with whom 
you were much pleased. She possesses business qualities of 
the first order. I hope you both will become better ac- 
quainted. I am gratified to learn of the progress of 'the 



230 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



Bishop" and Mary. May the blessings of Heaven be yours. 
Your brother, W. P. Fowler.'' 

Again : "Smithland, l\y., March 7, 1852. — My Dear Sister 
Missouri : I am rejoiced to hear of the progress your 
children are making in their studies. I have some ditficulty 
in preventing my' two oldest sons from taking the California 
fever and leaving at once for that distant region of gold and 
outlawry. Many have gone and returned with fortunes, 
while more have failed. 

''I started my son James (White) to La Grange College 
a few days ago; 1 intend that he shall graduate at that in- 
situation. Littleton A. is living with his uncle Given in 
Paducah and going to a most excellent school; Willie is at 
home and going to school; he is one of the most studious of 
his class. We have a little girl, an orphan and a distant 
relative of my wife; she is at a female seminary in Union 
County; so you see I am trying to do something to carry out 
my theor}^ that an education is a fortune bestowed. My 
regards to Brother Woolam. My wife desires to be remem- 
bered in her love to you. May Heaven bless you in this 
world and the one to come. Your brother, W. P. Fowler."' 

''Smithland, Ky., June 28, 1853. — My Dear Sister Mis- 
souri: My anticipated trip to Texas to visit you and the 
other relatives is given up for the present, at least. After 
selling my farms near here T had serious intentions of mov- 
ing to your country, as Mrs. Fowler was heartily in favor 
of it. Since that time I have purchased property in town, 
where I expected to live the remainder of my days; in so 
short a time those plans seem coming to naught. I seriously 
fear for my wife's health, which has been generally good; 
her physician thinks that travel and change of climate may 
be necessary for its complete restoration; he suggests Cali- 
fornia for a change. If she must go, one of my sons — per- 
haps Joseph — will accompany her. If she should find that 
she must continue there for permanent benefit, I may go 
there to reside, although it is late in life for such a change 
in all mv worldlv afi'airs. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 231 

"Dickson and Joseph are lully grown; I am pleased with 
their habits and business capacity. Dickson is a little under 
medium size but of good personal appearance; Joseph ex- 
ceeds six feet in height, is finely proportioned, and is pro- 
nounced handsome; they are both in business for themselves 
and making money.^^ James W., Littleton A., and A\ l 
are at home with us and progressing most satisfactorily 
under one of the best teachers I have ever seen in or out of 
college. James is well grov/n for his age; he will be only 
medium size, and bids fair to be the best looking of the 
family; Littleton will make the largest man of any; he will 
be homely, though steady, auvl a great lover of money ; Willie 
is small and slender, rather hard-favored but exceedingly 
sharp and self-willed. In these remarks I have indulged to 
the limit the pride and vanity of a father in thus presenting 
my boys, but your mother-heart will forgive and make all 
allowances. * * * Brother Thomas Wilson is still liv- 
ing on his farm in Trigg County. He is quite wealthy. 
Sister Polly Ann has not had good health for the last few 
years. The loss of her little daughter (Clara Ann) has been 
a great affliction to her. * * * Well, my dear sister, we 
are still trying through grace to live right, and, though we 
ma}^ never meet again, and though we may be buried far 
apart, I indulge the glorious hope that we shall meet in joy 
when all of earth is ended with us. May Heaven's choicest 
blessings rest on all you hold dear in life. Your brother 
affectionately, W. P. F.'' 

Here occurs a break of twenty years' silence ; not that there 
was a silence of such length, but Mrs. Woolam either ceased 
saving the family letters, or else they were destroyed, — these 
of an earlier date escaping the destruction usual in most 
families. The eldest granddaughter of the family of John 
Littleton Fowler, of Paris, Texas, — Adella, — has sent to me 
the last letter — perhaps — ever written to her grandfather, 
John Hopkins Fowler, by his brother W. P. Fowler, of 

^''They must have inherited that quality from the Given family. 



232 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



Smitliland, Ky. This was written in August of 1873, and 
Colonel Fowler died the ensuing October. 

^^Smithland, Ky., xVug. 2o, 1873.— Colonel J. H. Fowler: 
My Dear Brother. — Your very welcome favor of the 19 instant 
reached me on the 2'S, which circumstance seems to reduce 
the distance between us, bringing Texas to my own doors. 
1 regret to learn of the return of your old atliiction (rheuma- 
tism). As far back as 1 can remember you our father had 
heated rocks placed in a hole in the ground, over which you 
were placed wrapped in blankets, when you were steamed for 
your swollen knees. 1 supposi- the disease is constitutional 
and will ever remain; to mitigate youi- j);in)xysms is alK)ut 
all you can ever hope to do, 1 suppose. * * * Yesterday 
ended a very perplexing lawsuit which has Ijeen pending 
more than a year. Mis. Fowler loaned a man nearly four 
thousand dollars of her own means, taking a mortgage on his 
property to secure herself, lie, his brother-in-law, and two 
sons all committed i)erjiiry and forgery to defeat the suit for 
the property. 1 do not think the property covers the debt. 
* * * In my last letter I deferred mentioning anything 
on your open polar sea theory while hoj^ing to get a full 
account of Captain Hall's observations should the Polaris 
ever be found, or her journals recovered. The cholera has 
subsided in Paducah and all of our family escaped ; none 
were even attacked. 1 hope to hear from you often. God 
bless and preserve you in this life and save you in the next, 
is the prayer of your Ijrothci", W. P. Fowler.'"' 

The open polar sea theory was a hobby of Colonel Fowler's. 
I often heard it discussed in family circles when I was too 
young to understand or feel interested. In later yeajrs I 
endeavored to get the privilege of examining some of his 
wa'itings on the subject, also much of his writing in verse, 
but I was never so favored. A few years ago Mrs. R. Peterson 
lost all of her family relics by fire; I now^ se^riously fear 
that none of the writings are extant. 

In the summer of 1874, when I was a schoolgirl of six- 
teen 3'ears, I visited my uncle and aunt in company of my 



ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 233 

brother Henry B. Fowler^ in the year prior to his marriage. 
"Mount Elm/' the home of Judge and Mrs. Fowler near 
Smithland, was ideally lovely in its situation on the Ohio 
River, for I had never lived on a water course. The quaint 
old house embosomed in noble elms on a bold bluff overlook- 
ing the ever interesting river, with its continually passing 
steamboats, makes at the present hour one of the most 
beautiful pictures of memory. My uncle was so courtly and 
interesting; my aunt, who was suffering from ill health — as 
was also my brother — so motherly, kind, and gracious; my 
brother so jolly and hopeful despite his bad health. All 
three of my companions of that brief, bright summer have 
"passed to that silent bourne from whence no traveler re- 
turns,'' and I alone am left to tell the story of that summer's 
sojourn "in the land of my fathers" with the only living 
brother of my father, who was then living also. The charm- 
ing friends, both young and old, of my dear uncle and aunt 
are cherished in sweet remembrance yet by the then care-free, 
buoyant girl, and how like dream-friends in a dream-world 
they all now seem after a quarter of a century ! Shadowy 
and dim is the remembrance of our tearful farewell to our 
wee])ing aunt on the boat landing; the affectionate company 
of our loved uncle on the steamer as far as Paducah ; a kindly 
face looking into mine from the back of my chair, as we 
sat at supper, when uncle introduced my "Cousin Dick,'' — 
only a few murmured words and he was gone out of my life 
as suddenly as he had come, like ships that meet and hail 
"All's well" and pass on their way never to meet again; 
the wait of several hours in Paducah, when uncle called with 
us at the home of Captain Dick Fowler, where we met his 
invalid wife, the vivacious daughter "Lollie" and her young 
husband, Mr. Given; the next call at the home of Captain 
Joe Fowler, and the brief meeting with his good wife and 
the bevy of interesting little girls who hovered affectionately 
near their grandfather; the last farewell to our dear uncle, 
"the grand old Kentucky gentleman;" then we were home- 
ward bound to Texas and Palestine. Was it not all a dream? 



234 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Xever, never from that day to this have I met one of the 
friends or kindred whom 1 met that lotus-eating summer, 
with one exception.^' He was a staid husband and father 
who had been "one of the boys"' of Smithland, when I was 
a visiting girl. My loved umle and aunt have gone to their 
glorious reward; my good brother is in his grave; and the 
quaint old house of ''Mount Elm/*' with all its tender asso- 
ciations, has gone up in flame and smoke. Nothing remains 
but the remembrance of the kindly and loving interest in tlie 
little Texas niece. Something beautiful passed through my 
life when I met and knew Uncle Wiley and Aunt "Sallie 
Fowler. 



Mr. John Haynes, in Austin, Texas. 18U8. 



CHAPTER XL 



'A shipwrecked sailor, buried on this coast, 

Bids you set sail; 
Full many a gallant ship, when we were lost, 

Weathered the gale. ' 

— [Theocritus. 



DESCENDANTS OF BULLAKD AND BATHSHEBA (CRUDUP) FOW- 
LER, FORMERLY OF WAKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, 
LATER OF CARROLL COUNTY, TENNESSEE. 

BULLARD FOWLER was the fifth son of GODFREY 
FOWLER, SR., AND RAHAB (COOPER) OF WAKE 
COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. He was born November 
28, 1776, presumably in Wake County (as his father God- 
frey, St., is recorded as being a citizen of that county in 
1772). He married Bathshel)a Crudup (who was born April 
25, 1783, and who died in October, 1852, in Carroll County, 
Tennessee). Bullard died in Wake County, March 12, 1823. 
His widow and nine children moved to Blount County, 
Alabama, to rejoin BuUard's brother John, an early settler 
in that county, but they remained there only about two years 
when they went to Carroll County, Tennessee, near Bul- 
lard's youngest brother William who had married Mourning 
Crudup, a sister of Bathsheba. The date of neither removal 
is given by Dr. Joseph Godfrey Fowler, of Christmasville, 
Carroll County, or by Mr. J. W. White, of Greenfield, Weak- 
ley County, both of whom are descendants of Bullard and 
Bathsheba. They had nine children : Josiah Crudup, God- 
frey, Jasper, Tillitha, Lucinda, Louisa, Lac}^, Betsy, and 
Emily, 

JOSIAH CRUDUP FOWLER was born June 7, 1806, in 
Wake County, near Raleigh, N. C. ; he married Martha 
Cooper, daughter of Joseph Cooper, who was born March, 
1810, and died March 11, 1868. Josiah C. died in Carroll 
County, April 4, 1870. (Dr. Fowler, son of Josiah, forgets 
to enter marriage dates of his grandfather Bullard or his 



236 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

father Josiah C.) Josiali C. and Martha (Cooper) Fowler 
had only three children: 1. JOSEPH GODFREY, ])orn 
Xovember 10, 1835; studied the profession of medicine in 
Memphis, Tenn., graduating in the Medical University of 
Louisville, Ky., in the winter of 1864-'65, and has Ijeen an 
active and successful practitioner ever since. He married 
Martha Elizabeth Jouett, daughter of Thomas Jouett of 
middle Tennessee, in Overton County, October 22, 1861; they 
had seven children, four daughters and three sons: 1, Alvin 
Crudup; 2, Xora Alice, mai'iied John X. ^IcDonald in the 
year 1885 and has five children ; 3, Emma Blanche, married 
Isaac McDade and has four children ; 4, Martha Edna, mar- 
ried Robert C. Manly of McKenzie, Tenn., and has one 
child; 5, Stella; G, James Palmer; 7, Milton. Martha Eliza- 
beth (Jouett) Fowler died November 12, 18T9. Dr. J. G. 
Fowler married his second wife, Mary P. Liles, daughter of 
Daniel Liles, Carroll County, Tennessee, March 30, 1881 ; of 
this marriage there were four children: 1, Leila Belle; 2, 
Mary Helen; 3, Joseph Simons; 4, Edward Robert. Their 
mother, Mary P. (Liles) Fowler, died March 21, 1891. 

Dr. J. G. Fowler married his third wife, Sallie E. Bowden, 
daughter of the late E. G. Bowden of Paris, Tenn., on Jan- 
uary 29, 1895. 

The foregoing data were given by Dr. J. G. Fowler himself 
on February 8, 1900, Christmasville, Carroll County, Ten- 
nessee. He also gives the following: 

II. SrSAX MARY ELIZABETH FOWLER, eldest 
daughter of Josiali Crudup Fowler and Martha (Cooper) 
Fowler, born ^March 25, 1841 ; married Samuel C. Simpsox, 
of Claybrook, Tenn., in the year 1888, at Martin, Tenn.; she 
died at Claybrook, June 2, 1890, leaving no issue. 

III. MARTHA LOUISA, born March 16, 1845; married 
in the year 1870 J. H. Coleman, who died about 1885, 
leaving her a childless widow at his old homestead in Mc- 
Kenzie, Carroll County, Tennessee, where she still resides 
without remariTing. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 237 

Dr. Fowler adds in a postscript to this communication : 
"In reading an old letter I find that I made a mistake in my 
former letter to you, which I now take pains to correct. 
My Uncle Godfrey Fowlers last postofiice was Big Spring, 
Marshall County, Alabama." 

In addition to the preceding I quote a few facts recently 
written me by Mr. H. H. Barcliff of Blountsville, Ala., in 
response to my many efforts to locate the descendants of the 
Godfrey Fowler, eldest son of Bullard, in Alabama. Mr. 
Barcliff says he lived neighbor to the Godfrey Fowler men- 
tioned, and knew him to be a good moral Christian, a Meth- 
odist. He was the original producer of the "Fowler apple,'' 
considered so fine in that State. He lost a son John in the 
l)attle of Murfreesboro, Tenn. He also states that God- 
frey Fowler's last postoffice was Big Spring, Marshall County, 
x41abama. 

DESCENDANTS OF GODFREY FOWLER AND HIS WIFE, MRS. MARY 

MARPHREE (bORN CARNS), OF BLOUNT COUNTY, 

ALABAMA. 

The following information is also contributed by Mr. John 
Fowler Musgrove, who has so kindly sent all the data of 
John Fowler and his descendants of Blount County, Ala- 
bama. He had not the family data at hand, as Dr. Joseph 
Godfrey Fowler of Christmasville, Tenn., but his inforuiation 
is valuable as an auxiliary to the other. It must be remem- 
bered that Dr. J. G. F. is a grandson of Bullard. 

"GODFREY FOWLER, SON OF BULLARD, was born 
about 1800 and came to this State about 1827, as near a>s I 
can learn. He married Mrs. Mary Marphree, whose maiden 
name was Carnes. They had three sons and three daughters : 

"1. JOSIAH BULLARD, born ; he married a Miss 

Staton and they had several children ; she died and he then 
married a Miss Jones and had another large family. He 
has been dead about two or three years; his children live in 
this and adjoining counties. The address of his son George 
Fowler is Liberty, Blount County, Alabama. 



238 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



"II. MARGAKET, the eldest daughter, died when she 
had just attained young womanhood. 

"III. AXGELINE, the second daughter, married Jackson 
Deaver and had two children; when Deaver died she mar- 
ried Chandler, and they live in Marshall County 

(Alabama?). 

"lY. LUCIXDA, who never married and who lives on 
her father's old homestead in Blount County, and I think 
her postoffice is Brooksville. 

"V. JOHN, second son of Godfrey, was killed in the Civil 
War (elsewhere stated, in the battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn.). 

"JAMES, youngest son of Godfrey, has a family and 
lives in Blount County, and 1 believe bis j)ost()liice is Snead. 
I know little of his family." 

Mr. ]\Iusgrove adds: "Godfrey Fowler was a very firm 
man. He represented Blount County in tlie Cieneral Assem- 
bly.'' His features show rugged kindliness, with great de- 
termination and steadfastness of purpose. 

Later, Mr. Musgrove writes : "Relative to Godfrey Fow- 
ler's service in the Alabama Legislature, he was a member of 
the House of 1836, and I think he served one term in the 
Senate, but I am not positive as to that. He was a man of 
fine talents and highly respected. His eldest and youngest 
sons [ Josiah Bullard and James A. ?] were members of the 
same regiment with me. Tbey were both privates, but good 
soldiers. His second son, John, was in another regiment and 
was killed or died early in the war." [Li the battle of 
Murphreesboro, Tcnn.] 

There is something especially attractive in the quaint old 
picture of Godfrey Fowler and wife, which has been so well 
reproduced by our family artist, Mr. Cline Wilson of Russell- 
ville, Ky. The placid old couple sit out under their own 
apple tree. He shows a worthy pride in the "Fowler apple,'' 
— which is said to be very iine in the present day, — and for 
books, one of which he holds in his hand. Could thea-e be a 
simpler or more unique concent for a picture ? 

I had a letter from this Godfrev's voun^est and onlv living 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 239 



son, James A. Fowler, whose postoffice is Friendship, Mar- 
shall County, Alabama, but I think he lives in Blonnt 
County. He promised me data of his own family and of his 
two sisters, but I have failed to receive the information. He 
incidentally said that he was born December 1, 1843, and he 
was kind enough to express the wish for the family record. 
I regret to have so little to teJl of him. 

CHILDKEN OF LACY ( FOWLER ) AND JOHN WORTHAM WHITE 
OF TENNESSEE. 

John Wortham White was born November 1, 1809; he 
married Lacy Fowler, daughter of Bullard and Bathsheba 
(Crudup) Fowler. Lacy was born July 26, 1814; married 
November 14, 1829; Lacy (Fowler) White died February 20, 
1835; she had children: 

I. JOSIAH CHAELES, born February 12, 1831. 

II. LOUISA, born February 17, 1833. 

III. WILLIAM GODFREY, born February 14, 1835. 
John Wortham White married Louisa Fowler, sister 

of his first wife, on May 20, 1836; to them were born nine 
children : 

I. JAMES EDWARD, born July 3, 1837; he married 
Elizabeth E. Ray, December 19, 1864; she had two children: 
1, Beatrice E., born March 16, 1866; 2, Emma L., born 
June 16, 1868. J. E. White's first wife died and he married 
Laura Barton, April 16, 1879, who bore him five children: 

1, Edgar B., born March 10, 1881; 2, Conyers, born ; 

3, Myrtle L., born September 15, 1884; 4, Grady K, born 
May 35, 1887; 5, Harry H., born April 1, 1890. 

II. TILLITHA ANN, born August 6, 1839; married — 
Perry, and lives near Whitesboro, Texas. 

III. ELIZABETH EMILY, born July 15, 1841. 

IV. JOHN WESLEY, born November 11, 1843. (See 
•elsewhere. ) 

V. BATHSHEBA CRUDUP, born September 12, 1846. 

VI. MARTHA VANDALIA, born April 6, 1849. 



240 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

VII. ROBERT LAFAYETTE, born August 31, 1851. 
VIII and IX. FRANCES HASLETINE and AMANDA 

J. — twin sisters — born January 26, 1857; iVMANDA died 
young. 

John Worthani White died May 12, 1878. Louisa (Fow- 
ler) White died November 14, 1895. She was the last sur- 
viving child of BuUard and Bathsheba (Crudup) Fowler. 

Mr. John Wesley White, of the hrni of Mount & White, 
Greenfield, Weakley Country, Tennessee, is the author of the 
foregoing. He writes that he went to his sister's in Carroll 
County to consult the old family Bible so as to make sure 
of his dates. I sincerely regret that he failed to fill out the 
data of the families of his 1 brothers and sisters. 

DESCENDANTS OF J. W. WHITE AND JENNIE (PLUMMER) 
WHITE, OF GKEENFIELD, WEAKLEY COUNTY, TENNESSEE. 

Lacy Fowler, a daughter of Bui lard and Batlisliel)a 
(Crudup) Fowler, formerly of Wake County, North Carolina, 
later of Carroll County, Tennessee, was married to J. W. 
White, and after having two sons and a daughter she died; 
later her sister Louisa — who was the youngest, I believe — was 
married to the same man. i^uuisa had nine children, one of 
whom was J. W. White, the Jiead of tliis family, member of 
the firm of ]\rount & White, dealers in groceries, Greenfield, 
Tenn. His children: 

I. JOHN WILLIE, born May IG, 1872; lives in Uvalde, 
Texas, and is a telegraph operator. 

II. ROBERT LEE, born July 30, 1874; is railroad agent 
and telegrapher at Ruddock, La., in about thirty miles of 
New Orleans. 

III. JIM PLUM^ilER, born February 20, 1877. 

IV. JOE BURTON, born April 11, 1879; he is a licensed 
Baptist preacher. 

V. MARY LOU, born December 1, 1880. 

VI. LIZZIE, born February 23, 1884. 

VII. EDDIE, born November 9, 1887. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 241 



J. W. WHITE was bom November 11, 181:3, and JENNIE 
PLUMMER, his wife, was born September 4, 1845 ; they were 
married July 30, 1871, in McKenzie, Tenn. 

A letter from this Mr. J. W. White (I am sorry I have not 
his name instead of his initials), dated "Greenfield (Weakley 
(Jounty), Tam., Jan. 1, 1900,'^ from which I extract: "Bill- 
iard Fowler, my grandfather, married Bathsheba Crndnp 
of North Carolina; he died in that State and his widow and 
nine children moved to Blonnt County, Alabama, where they 
remained about two years; then they moved to Tennessee 
(Carroll County). Godfrey Fowler, the eldest son of Bul- 
lard, married and lived in Alabama, dying there about the 
close of the war between the States. Some of his descend- 
ants still live in that State. My grandmother, Bathsheba 
Fowler, died, aged 85, at my father's about forty-eight years 
ago— about 1852. 'Old Adam,'\ a negro man she owned in 
North Carolina, who is now about eighty-five, became the 
property of Josiah in the division after grandmother's death ; 
he is still living. 

"All of Bui lard Fowler's children died in Tennessee ex- 
cept Godfrey, mentioned before. My mother, Louisa (Fow- 
ler) White, died aged eighty-four, in 1896. I send you a 
letter from uncle Godfrey to uncle Josiah, for you to read 
and return to me." [This letter was dated August 25, 1844, 
in Blount County, and was addressed to Josiah C. Fowler, 
McLemoresville, Carroll County, Tennessee. It was written 
in a good, bold hand, having few errors, which showed the 
writer to be a man of considerable education and refinement. 
He mentions no one personally but "mother" and "wife." 
It is an ordinary family letter, containing no news, with 
kind inquiries of the health and happiness of the family of 
his brother, also of "mother" and her family, with interest 
in prices of Tennessee lands. This was folded and sealed 
with a wafer, as in the days before envelopes and postage 
stamps, and was posted at Blountsville, Ala.] 

"Uncle Josiah Fowler was considered well-to-do, for he 
had about twenty negroes at the beginning of the war. He 

16 — Fowler. 



242 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMIL'i. 



had three ehihlren : Dr. Joseph Godfrey Fowler of C^hrist- 
masville, Carroll County, Tennessee; Martlia, who is Mrs. 
Coleman of McKenzie, Carroll County, Tennessee; and 
Susan, who is dead.'' [The writer sends me two faded ])ie- 
luTes, one of Josiah Fowler and his daughter Marllia (Mrs. 
Coleman at present), and one of Godfrey Fowler and his 
wife, of Alabama. Both pietures are very much faded, the 
features of Josiah being nearly entirely lost, while those of 
his daughter are plainer, showing rather a eomely young 
woman. The father has the nol)le and conspieuoiis brow of 
the family, wbitli is inhcM-ited by tlie present generation. 
Godfrey is of tall and angular stature, with deeply marked 
lines of face, resend)ling in a marked degree (V^lonel John 
H. Fowler of Paris, Texas. Godfrey's wife is a pretty, 
plaeid-faced old lady in a white eaj). 1 sincerely ho])e that 
both pictures, although faded and dim. .can l)e used in this 
record. 'Tis true that they were })lain pioiu'crs of a rude 
country, yet had they lived in our day, with our advantages 
of education and culture, they might have made far better 
and holier uses of them than our ease-loving selves have 
done. Who knows?] 

"My father, J. W. White, was a Baptist i)reaeher, and I 
have one son Joe who is lii-ensed to preach; he is still in 
school, is twenty years old, and 1 am pToud of him. Bullard 
Fowler had a brother 'Billie.' who lived for years and died 
in Henry County, Tennessee. He had three sons, — John, 
Crudup, and Jim ; of the daughters, Martha married a Dolla- 
hite; Harriet, Dr. Wm. Greer, whose son lives near Paris, 
Tenn. ; his name is William and he has a son Charley who 
is a Baptist preacher and a good young man. T went to school 
to Dr. Greer when I was five years old; he taught in a log 
schoolhouse back of fathers field. Another of Uncle Billie's 
daughters married James Dunn and they have some children 
in Henry County. John had one son ^vhose address I do 
not know. [James Edwin Fowler, near Clarksville, Ark.] 
*Jim' was a captain in the Confederate army ; he married a 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 243 



sister of Governor Isliam G. Harris, and he has a son Rich- 
mond who lives near Paris. 

"Grandfather Bullard and his brother William married 
sisters. Josiah Crndnp lived in Xorth Carolina and was a 
Baptist preacher; he educated James, who is a Baptist 
preacher and lives in Paris, Tenn. ; he himself told me this 
several years ago. I do not know whether this Crudnp was a 
brother of Bathsheba. [Hei- father was Josiah Crudnp, who 
had a son Josiah who was a Baptist preacher and a member 
of Congress in 1823, so say Messrs. Kemp T. and H. B. 
Battle, of Winston, N. C] 

"The children of Bullard and Bathsheba Fowler were: 
Godfrey, Josiah C, Jasper (who died a young man in Ten- 
nessee)"^, Lucinda, Lacy, Tiliitha, Emily, Betsy, and Louisa. 
Lucinda married Tilman Johnson; her only living child is 
a practicing physician and a preacher in Texas,— postoffice 
unknown to me. Lacy married J. W. White and had three 
children; when she died her sister Louise later married the 
same man and she had nine children, of which I am one. 
Father died twenty-two years ago (1878). Modier was the 
last of the Bullard Fowler children to die, which was four 
years ago. I have one brother in Greenfield and one sister 
living near Whitesboro, Texas, and two sisters in Carroll 
County, Tennessee, while the others are all dead. Tiliitha 
Fowler died unmarried when al^out sixty-five or seventy 
years old. Emily married Owen White; had four children; 
two are living. Betsy married John Yergan; had four or 
five children." 

ADDITIONAL AUTHENTIC INFORMATION OF MOURNING AND 

BATHSHEBA CRUDUP, WHO MARRIED THE T^VO BROTHERS, 

WILLIAM AND BULLARD FOWLER, OF WAKE COUNTY, 

NORTH CAROLINA. 

The following letter of Dr. Kemp T. Battle, of Chapel 
Hill, N. C, is here quoted in paragraphs: "I shall have to 
get my son, Dr. H. B. Battle, of Winston-Salem, N. C, to 



244 ANNALIS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

answer your question;., as he has the family tree information. 
* * * Elizabeth Battle married Josiah Crudup, and their 
son Josiah Crudup was a Baptist preacher and a member of 
Congress about lS2o. * >^ * j[ knew years ago a William 
Fowler in Wake County, but 1 can not, without a glanee at 
our tree, tell exactly liow he was related to myself; I think 
he M^as a grandson of Elizabeth (Battle) Crudup. * * * 
I feel sure that my son will answer your questions to the 
best of his ability. The name you inquire about is CuUen 
Battle. Very truly, Kemp T. Battle." 

Letter of Dr. H. B. Battle of Winston, X. C, dated De- 
cember i;, 18IM): "My father, \h\ Kemp T. Battle, of 
Chapel Hill, has referred to me your letter of the lifth 
instant, as I have been more actively engaged in the details 
of our family's genealogy. ■•" * =;= ] liaye carefully read 
your letter, and have tabulated the information you have 
received, which you will iind in the inclosed sheet, in ink, 
while my remarks are in pencil. Elizabeth Battle was the 
sister of one of the ancestors of our direct line of Battles, as 
follows: Elizabeth Battle jnarried Josiah Crudup; their 
children were John, Mourning, and Bathshel)a. William 
Battle, a brother to Elizabeth, had a son Joel, who had in 
turn a son William, who became the father of Kemp T. Battle 
of Chapel Hill, X. C. * '•'" * 1 have not yet been able to 
trace the direct connection between the William Battle who 
married Chloe Crudup Boddie and our line, though I suppose 
there may be some. Very respectfully, H. B. Battle.'^ Here 
follows his chart, or guide: 

"William Fowder married Mourning Crudup, and had 
children : Josiah, Piety, &c.'' He mistakes in calling the 
eldest son Josiah instead of Joseph. To resume : "Ballard 
Fowler, a brother to William, married Bathsheba Crudup, a 
sister to ^lourning, and had children : Godfrey, &c. Nancy 
Fowler, a sister to William and Bullard, married Xathan 
Verser (with line of descent, left blank). Another sister, 
Elizabeth, married Boddie'' (according to my information 
written him, which was an egregious mistake, as corrected 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 245 



by Mr. Fred Battle of Arlington, Tenn., in a recent letter. 
He gives the Boddie line of descent in the Crudup line.) In 
passing, please let me say that all that is positively known of 
Elizabeth Fowler up to her marriage is that "she married a 
Richards and moved to Georgia;''— recorded in the late John 
W. Fowler papers. 

Mr. H. B. Battle then asks: "Are you not mistaken in 
regard to 5w?Zard, as written by yourself? Ballard is a 
common name in Wake and adjoining counties at this time, 
and our record gives Ballard, as above.'' 

In reply, I told him that all the Fowler papers, wills, deeds, 
division of property, etc., that I have turned to, to more 
particularly examine, seem Lo be written Bullard, without a 
single exception. The name goes back in the family to 
Petersburg, Va., to a son of Joseph the First, as is recorded 
in an old paper which belonged to the late John W. Fowler 
of Memphis, Tenn. 

The mistake of Mrs. Lydia C. Ray, in placing the Boddie 
line in the Fowler tree has occasioned a great deal of labor 
lost, with much attendant confusion, and Mr. Fred Battle 
of Tennessee has my sincerest thanhs for placing me right 
on that question. 

Mrs. Ray carries out the Verser line only partly, as fol- 
lows: "Nathan Verser and Xancy Fowler had a son Daniel 
who married Chloe Fort of North Carolina, a cousin to my 
father Benjamin Powell, aud moved to near Denmark, Tenn. 
They had sons William, John, Calvin, Fort, and Judson, and 
daughters ]\Iargaret, married — Cleaves, of Oakland, Tenn. ; 
Adeline, married a Boren ; Lucy, a Marley; and Bettie, a 
Wilson, I Ijelieve. Daniel Verser lived many years in Tipton 
County, Tennessee, and dying there he left many descendants 
in that county." 



246 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY 




HOME or VVILL,[AM FOWLER NEAR PARIS, TENNESSEE, 1845. 



CHAPTER XII. 



"The smallest roadside pool has its water from heaven, and its 
gleam from the sun. and can hold the stars in its bosom, as wol! 
as does the great ocean. Even so the humblest can live as tlie 
greatest." 



DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM AND MOL'KXING (CKUDUP) FOWLER^ 
FORMERLY OF WAKE COUXTY, XORTH CAROLIX^A, LAT- 
TERLY OF HEXRY COUXTY, TEXXESSEE. 

The following is partly a repetition of facts contained in 
Mrs. Lydia C. Eay"s letter, but in the testimony of more than 
one is the truth made plainer. Mr. William Hilary Greer, 
who resides near Paris, Tenn., writes that his data are o:leaned 
from the old family Bible which belonged to William Fowler, 
who was the youngest son of Godfrey Fowler, Senior, and 
Eahab (Cooper) Fowler, his wife, both of Wake County, 
Xorth Carolina. William and Mourning had twelve children, 
five sons and seven daughters. 

"WILLIAM FOWLER was born February 8, 1779; mar- 
ried MOURXIXG CPtUDrr (born February 4, 1781), on 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 247 

April 22, 1800; ^he was a daughter of Josiali and Elizabeth 
(Battle) Crudup, of Xorlh Carolina. She died in 1852 and 
he in 1854, both in Henry County, Tennessee, where he 
had moved in 1826. Their children were: 

"I. JOSEPH, born February 7, 1801, in North Carolina, 
where he remained and had a large family; the Fovders of 
that State at present are all his descendants. (See Joseph 
Fowler and his descendants.) 

"11. PIETY HESTEK, born March 18, 1803; married to 
Jonathan S. Wiggs about 1826 (it was December 21, 1834), 
and went to Marshall County, Mississippi. (To Holly 
Springs, 1835.) Tn Memoriam : Died, in Holly Springs, 
Miss., January 22, 1871, Mrs. Piety H. Doak, wife of B. M. 
Doak, aged sixty-eight years. She was a daughter of Wm. 
and Mourning Fowler, and she was born near Raleigh, N. C. 
She became a member of the Primitive Baptist church when 
twenty-six years of age. She moved with her parents to 
near Paris, Tenn., where she married J. S. Wiggs, December 
1, 1834, and moved to Holly Springs, 1835, and she has 
ever since been a resident of this place. Mr. Wiggs died May 
27, 1850, leaving her three eons and tw^o daughters. At the 
expiration of three years she was married to Mr. B. M. Doak. 
It was during her widowhood that the latent energies of her 
forcible character were called into exercise, developing her 
into a perfect womanhood. By perseverance and prayer she 
trained up her children to become useful and ornamental 
members of society, and they in return gave her true filial 
love and devotion. May that love constrain them to emulate 
her virtues and follow her Christian example, so that tKey 
too may be ready to answer the summons that must come 
to us all. She lived a long life in our midst, esteemed by 
a large circle of friends, who, in a common loss, mingle their 
tears of sympathy and regret.' The foregoing is a copy in 
part of the obituary of the subject, which was clipped from 
a Holly Springs newspaper and sent to me by Mrs. L. C. 
Ray, a niece of the deceased. An extract from the letter of 
Mrs. Eliza Helen (Fowler) Powell says: Tiety Hesl'er 



248 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Fowler married Jonathan Wiggs. William, their eldest son, 
is dead; Joseph J., their second son, lives in Little Kock, 
Ark., and he is a successful seller of drugs; James A., the 
other son, lives in Memphis, Tenn." (Written July 2, 1882.) 

"III. CRUDUP BATTLE, born April 2, 1805; never 
married; died in Henry County, Tennessee, May 9, 1868. 

"IV. MARTHA HENDERSON, born April 4, 1807; 
married to Nathan Dollahite and lived in Weakley County, 
Tennessee. She died September 30, 1874, leaving seven 
children, as follows : Araminta Helen, Cornelia, Louise 
Mourning, Mary Jane, Hilary, Joseph Battle, and James 
Crudup. 

"V. MASON T., born February 14, 1809; married to 

William Ragan, then after his death to Bkaddy. She 

died without issue, in Mississippi; date unknown. 

"VI. ELIZA HELEN, born July 11, 1811; married to 
Benjamin Powell (formerly of Wake County, North Caro- 
lina), on December 22, 1828, in Henry County, Tennessee. 
She died in Johnson County, Texas, December 22, 1882, on 
the fifty-fourth anniversary of her marriage; she was aged 
seventy-one years. She was the mother of nine children: 
William Dempsey, Joseph I)., Thomas A., Benja Ann Helen 
('Bennie'), Georgiana Isabella, John Calvin, Mary Mourn- 
ing, Lydia Caroline, Eliza Jimmie. 

"VII. HARRIET E. C, born July 11, 1813; married to 
H. H. Bondurant^ but had no issue; married to Dr. William 
Greer of Georgia, and had two children : I. William Hilary, 
born June 26, 1849; married to Leanah F. Haymes on Feb- 
ruary 5, 1873; she was born November 2, 1852; they had 
nine children: 1, William Charles, born January 28, 1874; 
he is a Baptist preacher, and is attending the Southern 
Baptist University at Jackson, Tenn. ; 2, Mary Harriet, born 
December 18, 1875; married to W. C. Clement; issue, one 
son, William Charles; 3, John, born January 6, 1878; 4, 
James Hilar}^, born January 11, 1880; 5, Elizabeth Leanah, 
born March 4, 1882; 6, Stanley Thomas, born. May 22, 1884; 
7, Horace Edwin, born July 26, 1887; 8, Evelyn Liela, born 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 249 

February 23, 1890; 9, Kalph Haymes, born February 13, 
1894; died June 2G, 1894. 11. Mary Elizabeth Mourning, 
the second child of Harriet (Fowler) and Dr. William 
Greer, married J. W. Hastingh of Springville, Henry County, 
Tennessee, where they reside. (See further data.) 

"VIII. EOINA BEOADUS, born April 5, 1816; died in 
North Carolina about 1826. 

"IX. WILLIAM JOHN, born May 5, 1818; married 
Czarina Duncan, August 25, 1853; they had three children, 
two of whom died in infancy; the third is James E. Fowler 
of Clarksville, Ark.; he is married and has a family. (See 
elsewhere. ) 

"X. JAMES ELISHA, born May 2, 1820; married on 
March 6, 1848, to Lucy Caroline Harris, youngest sister of 
ex-Senator Isham G. Harris of Tennessee; they had three 
children: 1, Martha Ann Eliza Green, born February 15, 

1852; died ; 2, James Richmond, born ; married 

Martha Davis, January 7, 1891 ; he resides near Paris, Tenn. : 
3, William Crudup, born October 23, 1858; died April 8, 
1875. James E. Fowler raised a company for the Fifth 
Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers, C. S. A., which he com- 
manded as captain in the Civil War. He died April 27, 1899, 
aged seventy-nine years. 

"XL MARY JANE, born October 14, 1823 ; married to 
James Dunn; they had several children, four of whom are 
living, — E. B. Dunn, Bolivar, Tenn. ; J. B. Dunn, who mar- 
ried Letitia Moody, and has two children, Miss P. T, Dunn, 
and S. J., who married Minnie Nance, and has two daughters 
and one son. 

"XII. CALVIN CROCKER, born January 9, 1825; 
served through the Mexican War; married Elizabeth Adaline 
Dunn on January 31, 1850; died March 6, 1852, leaving one 
daughter, Annabelle, who died an infant. 

"The following are the members of William Fowler's 
family who are buried in the old Fowler burying-ground near 
Paris, Tenn. : . William Fowler and his wife Mourning 
(Crudup) Fowler, Crudup Battle Fowler, Calvin C. Fowler 



250 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

and his infant daughter Annabelle, Dr. William Greer and 
his wife Harriet (Fowler) Greer. William Fowler came to 
Henry County, Tennessee, fiom Wake County, North Caro- 
lina, in 1826. David Fowler, a brother of William, came to 
this county at one time; while here one of his daughters 
married William Swor, who subsequently served as colonel 
of the Fifth Eegiment of Tennessee Confederate Volunteers. 
Another of his daughters married an Abernathy and lived in 
an adjoining county. One of her descendants is John Aber- 
nathy, Mixie, Carroll County, Tennessee. 

"One of Willianrs brothers (Bullard) married a Miss 
Cruduj), also a sister of William's wife (Bathsheba Crudup; 
see Mrs. Ray's letter). You can reach his descendants by 
addressing Dr. Josiah Godfrey Fowler,^ McKenzie, Carroll 
County, Tennessee. Mrs. Mattie Coleman, his sister, resides 
there also. 

"I should like a record for every one of my eight children. 
I am glad to aid you in vour undertaking in every way 
possible. Please indicate the particular line of investigation 
you wish me to work out for you. All of the relatives I have 
talked with about the Fowler Eecord are pleased that you 
are doing this work. With jnany best wishes, — Yours truly, 
W. H. Greer, Paris, Tenn., Nov. 26, 1899.^^ 

FAMILY OF MARY ELIZABETH ( GREER ) AND HER HUSBAND, 

J. W. HASTING^ OF SPRIXGVILLE^ WEAKLEY COUNTY^ 

TENNESSEE. 

I. LAURA HARRIET, born May 30, 1873; she graduated 
with the B. S. degree in 1892, in Clinton, Ky. ; she has 
been teaching ever since; she is at present teaching in Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn. 

II x\ND III. SUDIE AND LEILA— twins— born No- 
vember 30, 1876. -Leila died at the age of eleven years. 

^Dr. Joseph Godfrey Fowler, Christmasville, Carroll County, Ten- 
nessee. See Bullard Fowler, of Wake County, North Carolina, and 
his descendants. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 251 



Sudie iinislied lier coiiege studies at the Southern formal 
University, Huntingdon, Tenn. ; she is also a teacher. 

lY. WILLIAM HILARY, born January 21, 1879; he 
toolv the degree of A. B. at the age of nineteen and the B. S. 
at twenty, m the S. IN"^. University, Huntingdon; he is a 
boold^eeper for the lumber firm of Hasting <& Woodward. 

V. CORA C, born April 20, 1881; she is a B. S. from 
the S. N. U., Huntingdon; she is with her sister Laura, 
teaching music in Chattanooga. 

VL MARY WILSON, born August 30, 1887. 

VII. MILDRED, born June 6, 1890. 

VIII. LANE GREER, born in 1892; died in 1894. 
The foregoing data are furnished by Mrs. Mary E. (Oreer) 

Hasting, mother of this interesting family. I am sorry 
that her innate motherly modesty forbade her entering inla 
fuller details. How refreshing to find a family of aspiring 
daughters, like these mentioned. It was not stern necessity 
that forced them to a useful career, hut noble aspirations to 
be of use in the world, for their father is comfortably well-to- 
do. Y'oung women have no more right to fritter away golden 
youth than their brothers have, or young men to sow their 
^Svild oats" than their sisters. This age is approaching a 
single standard of usefulness and morality for both women 
and men; if matrimony thrusts itself in the lives of women 
and will not be bidden doAvn, then she should enter that 
holy state as thoroughly equipped, mind, body, and soul, as 
the man; but if it fail to knock insistently and irresistibly 
at her door, she should fill her life with brightness and use- 
fulness, for only the idle in the world are utterly miserable. 
I doff my hat to the Hasting sisters — God bless them ! 

DESCENDANTS OF MARTHA HENDERSON ( FOWLER ) DOLLAHITE 

AND HER HUSBAND, NATHANIEL DOLLAHITE, OF 

WEAKLEY COUNTY, TENNESSEE. 

Martha Henderson Fowler, the second daughter of W^illiam 
Fowler and his wife, Mourning (Crudup) Fowler, was born 



252 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

in Wake County, North Carolina, April 4, 1807; she moved 
with her parents to Henry County, Tennessee, in 1823 
(1826). She was married to Nathaniel Dollahite in 1825 
and resided in Weakley County, Tennessee. She died Sep- 
tember 30, 1874, leaving seven children, as follows: 

I. ARAMINTA HELEN, born ; married Fleming 

Goolsby; they had issue, one son and a daughter; both re- 
side in Greenfield, Weakley County, Tenn. The son married 

; the daughter married William Boon. The son is 

cashier of the Greenfield bank; his mother is widowed and 
resides with him. 

II. COENELIA, born ; married to Robert Mosely; 

died and left one son, Hilary Dollahite, who resides in 
Greenfield; he is worth about $50,000 and is thirty-seven 
years old, but unmarried. 

III. LOUISE MOURNING, married Andrew Swaim; 
she died and left six children, four sons and two daughters. 
Ida,^ the eldest daughter, married Charles Harris ; they have 
five children and live in Como, Tenn. ; William Swaim 
is in the American army in Cuba; the other three Swaim 
brothers live in Greenfield, Tenn. ; they are Joseph, Guy, 
and Buford. The other daughter — Laura — married Robert 
Goolsby and has two children; she lives a few miles from 
Greenfield, Tenn. 

VlV. MARY JANE, married M. Ezzell in 1863; children: 
a, Martha ("Mattie'"), married Dr. J. L. Shannon; issue, 
three sons and one daughter. James, the eldest, married 
Fanny Moran and lives in Dresden, Tenn. Mr. Ezzell served 
in the Confederate army as first lieutenant of his company. 
Y. HILARY, who was in the First Tennessee Regiment 

-Ida was the eldest daughter of Louise Mourning Dollahite, who 
maiTied Andrew Swain; she was born at Pillowville, Tenn., January 
5, 1859; she grew up in the village school of Gleason, Tenn.; married 
Charles Byron Harris, her school-fellow and playmate, June 12, 1883. 
Their children are: 1, Mattie Lou, born May 9, 1884; 2, Philip 
Dare, born February 3, 1886: 3, Ruth Loving, born September 23, 
1888; 4, Will Doan, born December 4, 1890; 5, Joe Looney, born 
November 18, 1892. These children are attending school in Como, 
Tenn. Mr. Harris is a son of Perry Harris and Julia Looney. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 253 

of the Confederate army. He was in a great many hard 
battles, and at length was taken prisoner but reported dead; 
his family never knew any better until he came home. He 
lives in Lytle, Texas, and has six children. 

VI. JOSEPH BATTLE^' was in the company of Captain 
James E. Fowler, his uncle, in the Fifth Tennessee Regi- 
ment, the first two years, then later in General Forrest's 
Brigade. He was only seventeen when he enlisted. 

VII. JAMES CEUDUP left his native State, Tennessee, 
and went to Santa Anna, Texas, where he died in 1897, leav- 
ing a wife and five children. His oldest son, Herbert Dolla- 
hite, is in the Philippine War. 

All of the foregoing data were furnished by Mrs. Mary J. 
Ezzell and her daughter, Mrs. Martha Shannon, Greenfield, 
Tenn. They also give the following kind sketch of Captain 
James E. Fowler, of Henry County, Tennessee: 

"James Elisha Fowler was born in Wake County, North 
Carolina, and was only a few years old when his father 
William Fowler emigrated to Henry County, Tennessee. He 
was educated for the profession of the law, but he did not 
like it, so his father gave him a fine farm on which he lived 
the rest of his long life. He married Caroline Harris, the 
youngest sister of Senator I sham G. Harris of Tennessee. 
James became the father of three children, only one of whom 
is living — Richmond, a son, who is married and lives on his 
father's old farm with his w^idowed mother. Captain James 
Fowler died in April of 1899. He was a brave officer who 
led his company through some hard battles of the Civil War, 
and his soldiers all loved him; in truth, he was loved by all 
who knew him w^ell, for indeed he was a good man. He was 
also very fine looking. He lost nearly all of his property 
after the war and he seemed never to have the ambition to 
renew his financial prosperity. In his last days he delighted 
most in the Confederate reunions, where he met again his 

''Joseph Battle Dollahite also went to Texas, but he left there about 
ten years ac^o, and, as we never heard from him again, our only 
conclusion is that he is dead. 



254 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

old companions in arms and recounted with them their many 
victories and defeats in battle/^ 

ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW OF CAPTAIN '"jIM"" FOWLER OF 
PIENRY COUNTY^ TENNESSEE^ NEAR PARIS, 

This is an extract from a letter written by Mrs. Joseph 
Fowler of Paducah, Ky., in answer to a question from me : 
^'You wish to learn something of the Fowler who lived near 
Paris, Tenn., and whom I mentioned to Rees [Godfrey Rees 
Fowler] when he was here. Five or six years ago this Captain 
Fowler came to Paducah. to attend a Confederate assembly 
of some kind. The hotels were all crowded, and some one 
went to the store and told your cousin Joe that there was 
an old gentleman named Fowler who could get no room, so 
your cousin went over to the hotel at once and invited him 
to our home. He came and seemed a plain farmer in plain 
clothes, while in physique he was a facsimile of your uncle 
Wiley [Judge W. P. Fowler of Kentucky]. He was tall, 
straight, and broad-shouldered, courteous in manner, and 
seemed to have great reverence and tenderness for woman, 
and was proud of his record for honesty and integrity. He 
and his wife were aged theu, and, from what he said of his 
son and daughter, I inferred they were on the old maid and 
bachelor list. He told us that he had once met Judge Fowler 
and they had traced up a relationship,-- cousins, I believe. 
I have remembered him for his striking resemblance to one 
of the handsomest, courtliest, and loveliest of men — Judge 
Fowler'' [who was her father-in-law]. 

Another paragraph — answering my same question — dated 
'New York, 1899, written by Miss Mattie Fowler, daughter of 
the writer of the preceding: "The temptation of seeing 
the immortal Dewey and his magnificent reception was too 
much for me, so I came from home (Kentucky), arriving 
here September 26 (1899). The celebration in honor of the 
great admiral was a sight never to be forgotten. It is also a 
great pleasure to be here visiting my sister's family," — Mr. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 255 



and Mrs. Edmund M. Post and their little son Fowler; the 
last is a great pet of the doting auntie. She concludes her 
very interesting letter by mentioning others of the Fowler 
kindred who were also visiting New York at the time, — Mrs. 
"Gus" Fowler, of Paducah, with her daughter, Mrs. Camp- 
bell ; also Mr. and Mrs. Warneken, of Clarksville, Tenn. 

LETTER OF MRS. MARY JANE EZZELL^ OF GREENFIELD, TENN.^ 

DAUGHTER OF MRS. MARTHA HENDERSON 

(fowler) DOLLAHITE. 

"Greenfield (Weakley County), Tenn., Dec. 18, 1899.— I 
am very glad you are writing up the Fowler family, for I 
know very little about my mother^s relatives. I have heard 
her say with evident pride that she never knew one of the 
Fowler name to be dissipated, or to do anything to bring re- 
proach on the name. My mother had fi.ve brothers, and they 
w^ere all moral in every respect. This pride of hers in her 
own family is quite pardonable, I think, when we see dissipa- 
tion running mad riot in so many good families. Honesty 
and morality are homely virtues, therefore wear well. ^A 
good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.^ 

"I have been trying to gain some information of Uncle 
Bullard Fowler's descendants for the Eecord, but so far I 
have failed. There are two grandsons of Bullard and Bath- 
sheba (Crudup) Fowler in business here in Greenfield, but 
they are unable to tell me much; they request me to wait 
until they can write to Dr. Joseph Fowler's son for full data. 
They remember that their grandmother was left a widow 
with eight [nine] children, six girls and two [three] boys. 
Godfrey Fowler, a son of Bullard, married in Alabama and 
reared a family in that State. Josiah Fowler,^ the other son, 
lived and died in Carroll County, Tennessee, leaving a son 
and a daughter; the son Joseph Godfrey is living at the old 
Fowler homestead; is married and has several children. 

^We know where the name of Godfrey is from. Joslaii is from the 
Crudup family of North Carolina. 



256 ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

There is not a surviving child of Bullard Fowler and there 
are few grandchildren in this State. I do not know where 
the other descendants are, if living. 

"I have my grandfather's (William Fowler) old family 
Bible, with all the births, marriages, and deaths of himself, 
wife, and all of his twelve children; if you should wish any 
of these dates, please let me know. Wishing you success in 
your labor of love, sincerely your relative, Mary J. Ezzell.^' 

DESCENDANTS OF JOSEPH EOWLER AND MARY (sMITH), HIS 
WIFE^ OF WAKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. 

JOSEPH was the eldest child of WILLIAM FOWLER 
and MOURNING (CRUDUP), his wife. William was the 
youngest son of GODFREY FOWLER, SR., and RAHAB 
(COOPER), his wife. Godfrey, Sr., was a son of Joseph 
THE First, who went from near Petersburg, Va., to Wake 
County, North Carolina, prior to 1772. Joseph was born in 
1801; he married Mary Smitli in 1824; died in 1883. They 
had eight children, five sons and three daughters: 

I. W^ILLIAM BROADUS, born 1825; married Amanda 
Perry in 1879; their issue: 1, Earl Broadus, December 22, 
1879; he has attended Wakefield Classical Institute, and 
Turlington Institute, Smithfield, N. C, and is now in his 
freshman year in Wake Forest College, where he expects to 
graduate; 2, a daughter who died in infancy. Amanda 
(Perry) Fowler died in 188 — ; her husband still resides near 
Rolesville, Wake County (1899). 

II. CANDACE AMANDA, born 1827; died in 1897; she 
never married. 

III. JOSIAH CRUDUP, born April 8, 1830; graduated 
from the Philadelphia College of Medicine and Surgery in 
1854; served as a surgeon in the Forty-seventh North Caro^ 
lina Regiment, Confederate army; married Mary Hart m 
1865; they reside in Wake Forest; their children are: I, 
Pettigrew Edward, born in 1866 ; attended Wake Forest Col- 
lege from 1884 to 1888; married Lizzie Dunn, February 29, 



ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 257 

1888; no children. II, Kosa Clark, born 1869; married J. 'L. 
Allen, Forestville, Wake County, Xortli Carolina; issue, 
Junius LeRoy, born January 10, 1894. Ill, William Colum- 
bia, born March 31, 1876; married to William Willis Hold- 
ing (born July 3, 1863), a merchant and cotton-buyer of 

Wake Forest, on , 1892; their issue: 1, Bruce Fowler, 

born July 13, 1893 ; 2, William Willis, Jr., born December 24, 
1895; 3, Kosa Helen, born October 29, 1897; 4, Mary Hart, 
born January 31, 1899."* A picture of this family in a group 
shows a venerable looking ffilher and a benign-faced mother, 
with handsome son and wife, and two comely daughters, with 
their good-looking husband.-. Dr. J. C. Fowler resides at 
Wake Forest, where his son Pettigrew and his daughter Mrs. 
Holding also reside. 

IV. HARDEMAN DUNN, born in 1832; attended Wake 
Forest College 1853-'57, graduating an orator from his so- 
ciety and with the A. B. degree; at the beginning of the 
Civil War he entered the Confederate service as second 
lieutenant of the First North Carolina Regiment, and was 
made captain of the same company; at the close of the war 
he married Mary Ann Carroll, of Arkansas, and emigrated 
to California, residing at Duarte, Los Angeles County; they 
reared five children to maturity : 1, Annie ; 2, Joseph ; 3, 
Lizzie; 4, Carroll; 5, Hardy; Annie died when about twenty 
years of age; the others are living in California. (I was 
anxious to obtain fuller data of the descendants of H. D. 
Fowler, but this is all I could get him to give me. His 
picture is that of a tine looking old gentleman with decided 
Fowler features.) 

V. MARY ANN, born in 1835; married to Rev. Joshua 

*Later. — An extract from a letter written June 4, 1901: "My 
daughter Mary Columbia Allen was born July 18, 1900, in Wake 
±t'orest. My sister also has a baby daughter' (5), Minnie Kathryn 
Holding, born October 8, 1900. * * * Wake Forest College 
commencement was last week, and we attended. Earl B. Fowler 
was awarded two medals, one in athletics and the other for the best 
story published in the college magazine during the past year, i 
wish to send you a copy as soon as I shall be able to secure one. 
Rosa Fowler Allen," 
17 — Fowler. 



258 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Addison Stkadley in lSi)2 ; "lie was the son of a Baptist 
preacher, Kev. Thomas Stradley, who was a pioneer preaclier 
of western North Carolina, and he bnilt the first honse on 
the present site of Asheville" (letter of W. P. Stradlev, San 
Francisco, September 18, 1899) ; one son, Walter Preston, 
born December 26, 18G7. (For further data of ^Y. P. S., see 
subjoined letter, wdiich is very interesting.) l^ev. J. A. S. 
and wife reside in Oxford, Granville County, Xorth Caro- 
lina. 

A'l. POSANNA, born 1837; died young. 

yil. EDWAKD CPUDUP, born 1845; attended Wake 
Forest College 18GG-'()9, lacking a year of graduation; mar- 
ried Cora Powell, of Wake County; their children: I. Mary, 
married James Alexander McKeitiien, Aberdeen, Moore 
County, December (>, 1893; he was born in Cumberland 
County, June 10, 1859, and is a Scotch Presbyterian; his 
grandparents were native-born Scots; their issue: 1, Lucille, 
born October 13, 1894; 2, James I-Cdward, born April 11, 
1897; 3, Margaret Katlierine, born Aprd 9, 1899. II. Annie 
Stradley, born Xovember 23, 1874; married D. J. Mc- 
Pherson, Moore County; issue, one son. III. Edward 
Crudup, Jr., born 1879. lY. John Powell, born in 1883. 
V. James Kobert, born in 1885. [These facts w^ere given by 
Mrs. Mary (Fowder) McKeithen.] 

VIII. MARTIN LUTHER, born 1847; was a student of 
Wake Forest College, 1866-^70, taking the A. B. degree; he 
studied medicine in the Baltimore Medical College; he mar- 
ried Mary Whitfield in 1873; they had children: 1, John 
Henry, born in 1874, married Grace Baker in 1898; 2, Wil- 
liam H., born in 1876; 3, Martin Luther, Jr., born in 1878. 
Dr. Martin L. Fowler lives on a portion of the old lands of 
Godfrey Fowler, Sr., on the waters of Little River; his post- 
office is Rolesville, Wake County. [This information was 
sent by Mrs. Rosa (Fowler) Allen, as I could not get a reply 
from the doctor himself.] 

I am indebted to Earl B. Fowder, who is at present a 
student of Wake Forest College, for the following informa- 



ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 259 

tJon : "Wake Forest College is a Baptist institution, with 
a distinctly Christian influence. In 1834 it was founded in 
the forest of Wake County, under the name of Wake Forest 
Institute; the name was changed to Wake Forest College in 
1838. The Rev. Samuel Wait was its first president; Dr. 
C. E. Taylor is the present one. These members of the Fowler 
family have been educated in its halls : H. D. Fowler, 1853- 
'57; E. C. Fowler, 1866-'69; M. L. Fowler, 1866-'70 ; P. E. 
Fowler, 188-l-'88.'' The foregoing data have been placed 
in the proper order, Init the ensuing have not: "Walter 
Preston Stradley, 1883-'8T; he was a dcl)ater in '86, an 
orator in '87, and class valedictorian with the degree of A. M. 
He took a course in Johns Hopkins University, and a law 
course in Vanfler])ilt.'' 

It is with pardonaljle pride that I make this record, for my 
comfortable belief is this: give a child a clean and honest 
ancestry, a good mind, an education with Christian influences, 
and he is equijjped for the nolile battle of life with flattering 
chances for reasonable triumphs. Z\Iy observation of the 
careers of our most brilliant Fowlers have led me to the con- 
clusion that genius is always erratic, therefore our approxi- 
mate family geniuses are rather uncomfortable members to 
deal with, or to properly "tag" and put in the right niche of 
the family gallery. 

SKETCH OF JOSEPH FOWLER. BY HIS GKAXDSOX, EARL BROADUS 

FOAVLER. 

The Fowlers of Xorth Carolina came originally from 
Virginia, in the general drift of emigration southward. They 
came from England to the colony of Virginia, date unknown. 
William Fowler, the youngest son of Godfrey, Senior, re- 
mained on his allotted portion of the old Fowler' homestead 
until 1826, when he moved to Henry County, Tennessee, 
where he lived in three miles of Paris until his death in 
1854. He was the father of ten children. Joseph, his eldest, 
remained in Xorth Carolina, and became the father of eight 



260 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



children. [See letters of Mrs. Eliza Helen (Fowler) Powell 
and Mrs. Eosa (Fowder) Allen]. Joseph was born on his 
father's (William) farm on the banks of Little Eiver, Wake 
Connty, Xorth Carolina, in 1801. He worked on the farm 
until he was grown, enjoying only the meager advantages 
of an education afforded by the "old-field schoolhouse" of 
that day. In 1824 he married Mary Smith and bought the 
adjoining farm of his uncle John Fowler, who removed to 
Tennessee. [Here Mrs. Powell says: "Uncle John Fowler 
moved to Alabama at an early day and located in Blount 
County, in the forks of the Black Warrior River.''] 

Joseph began life for himself with a wife and 137 acres 
of land, with a log cabin for a home; at the beginning of the 
Civil War he owned an extensive plantation and forty-seven 
negroes. Soon after marrying he w^as made deputy sheriff, 
which office he held fourteen years in succession; afterwards 
he was appointed magistrate, continuing in that office to the 
end of the war. During that period he traveled nearly all 
the time, settling estates and transacting other public busi- 
ness; by his tact, energy, and executive ability he accumu- 
lated a considerable amount of property. Stripped by the 
war of everything but thirty bales of cotton, he began to 
rebuild his shattered fortunes by resuming his merchandising, 
which he had begun in 1853, and by building a flour and 
grist mill, also a cotton gin, on his farm. 

In 1866 his wife died, and in 1867 he received an injury 
by being thrown from his buggy from which he never fully 
recovered, being obliged to walk with the aid of crutches the 
rest of his life. He vv^as distinguished for a robust and 
handsome physique, as wtII as an indomitable will. He had 
fine business intuitions, and his opinions were eagerly sought 
in questions of every-day law, for he was recognized hj all 
who knew him as a man of strict honesty and undoubted 
integrity. At his death he was a faithful and consistent 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 2(51 

member of the Kolesville Baptist church.^ He died at the 
home of his son, Dr. Josiah Crudup Fowler, in Franklin 
County, Angust 24, 1883, at the advanced age of eighty-two 
years. 

WILLIAM BROADUS FOWLER, 

Eldest son of Joseph Fowler and Mary (Smith) Fowler, 
which Joseph was the eldes': son of William, the youngest 
son of Godfrey, Sr., who was the third son of Joseph the 
First, who is regarded as the founder of the Fowler family 
in Wake County, North Carolina, because known records go 
back no farther in Wake County, all evidence pointing to 
Virginia as the former home of the emigrants, — southern 
middle Virginia. William B. Fowler was born June 10, 
1825 ; his 3^outh was spent on his father's plantation in honest 
labor, and in obtaining a common-school education under the 
usual difficulties of the first-born of large families. When 
he attained his majority he taught school for several yearp 
before going into business with his father; he Avas so engaged 
when hostilities between the States began, when he enlisted 
in Company I, First North Carolina Kegiment, serving in 
the seven days' battles around Eichmond, at Mechanicsville, 
Malvern Hill, and Fraunce's Tavern. He was a lieutenant 
in the home guard stationed near Greens1)oro and Kingston 
a part of the time of the war. 

At the end of the war he resumed Imsiness with his father 
until 1871, when he built a residence on the site of old 
Antioch (Methodist) church, more than two miles from his 
father's home, where he began farming. There in 1879, at 
the mature age of fifty-two years, he married Miss Amanda 
Perr}^, who bore him two children, a son, Earl Broadus, and 
a daughter who died an infant. His wife died in 1883. For 

■''It is interesting to note that the North Carolina branch of the 
family are all Baptists, as was the pious Baptist wife of Godfrey, 
Senior. The Kentucky line is largely Methodist in religious prefer- 
ence, and the Texas branch decidedly so. 



262 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

many years he was widely known as an expert land surveyor, 
which profession he relinquished several years ago on account 
of advancing age, which decided him to decline the office of 
county surveyor to which he had been elected. He has 
always been known to be thoroughly honest in his dealings 
Avith his fellow-men, and for his debt-paying proclivities. 
He is a member in good standing of the Eolesville Baptist 
church, and at present (1898) he is residing on his farm near 
Eolesville, Wake County, North Carolina, yet hale and hearty 
at the age of seventy-three. (Still living in November, 1899, 
aged seventy-five years.) 

"Forestville, Xorth Carolina, Dec. 20, 1897.— Mrs. Dora 
Fowler Arthur: My Dear Relative. — AVhile visiting my 
uncle, Dr. Martin Luther Fowler, two weeks ago, I had the 
pleasure of reading your letter of inquiry of the Fowler 
family in North Carolina at the present time ; I learned that 
your letter had never been answered, and I now assume the 
duty of telling you all I know of my own and myself. My 
grandfather was Joseph Fowder, son of William Fowder and 
Mourning Crudup. William was a brother of Godfrey 
(Junior). My great-grancl father, William Fowder, moved to 
Tennessee some time in the thirties, I think, taking with him 
all of his family except his son Joseph. Joseph visited him 
in Tennessee (near Paris), making the whole journey on 
horseback. Dr. H. B. Battle, of Ealeigh, is a genealogist, also 
a distant relative of ours in this way : William Fowler mar- 
ried Mourning Crudup, who was the daughter of Elizabeth 
(Battle) Crudup. Dr. Battle might be able to give you some 
assistance; he wants to know something of the Tennessee 
Fowlers. Can you help him? Hoping to be of service to 
you, yours sincerely, Eosa (Fowler) Allen [Mrs. J. L. Allen], 
Forestville, Wake Count}^, North Carolina.'^ 

From the same writer, as above, to the same person: "T 
thank you so much for the letter you sent which was written 
by Mrs. Powell (Eliza Helen Fowler) ; she was the sister of 
my grandfather, Joseph Fowder. I think there must not have 
been much correspondence between the families after the 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 263 

death of their father William in Tennessee, because my 
grandfather Joseph had eight children instead of five, as 
given in her letter. Six of them are still living; a daughter 
(Rosanna) died young, and another (Candace Amanda) died 
last February, aged seventy years. My father, Dr. Josiah 
Crudup Fowler, is the third child of Joseph ; he is sixty-nine 
3^ears old (1898) and as hale and hearty as most men twenty 
years younger. We Xorth Carolina Fowlers are all Baptists.® 

"I can not send you a good picture of myself, as you re- 
quest, but perhaps 1 may be able to interest you with a self- 
description, so here I am, at your service: "A decided 
blonde, with dark golden hair — almost red ! blue eyes, fair 
complexion, height 5 feet 4 inches, weight 160 pounds, age 
29 years the 6th of next September (1898). My only sister is 
SIX years younger than myself; was married when only six- 
teen and is now the mother of three children; her name is 
William Columbia; she married William Willis Holding, of 
W^ake Forest ; she is large and handsome, with dark hair and 
large brown eyes. With much love to you and admiration for 
your spirit in your laborious undertaking, — this family 
record, — also with prayers for the safe return of your nephew, 
Captain Godfrey R. Fowler, whose absence in this Spanish- 
American war must cause you keen regret, if you are no 
more patriotic in this strife than I am. Your distant cousin, 
Rosa Fowler Allen." * * * ^^^ov. 19, 1898.— Who is 
Miss Nora Estelle Fowler? I saw her photo among ^Types 
of Fair Women^ in the October Puritan; she must be one of 
our Texas Fowlers. Rosa Fowler Allen." (See family of 
J. L. Fowler, Paris, Texas.) 

"San Francisco, Sept. 8, 1899.— Mrs. J. J. Arthur: My 
Dear Madam. — Your favor regarding the Fowler family 
reached me a few days ago. I am ver}^ much interested in 
your researches in the history of the family, and I should 
be glad to hear more about ourselves. Will you publish the 

•^The fruits of the spirit of the pious wife of Godfrey, Senior. She 
is recorded in the journal of Little'ton Fowler as be^ng a Baptist of 
great piety. She was Rahab Cooper, of North Carolina. 



264 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

record when you complete it ? As for myself : I was born 
December 26, 1867, in my grandfather Fowler's old home- 
stead in Wake County, North Carolina. I am the son of 
Mary Ann (Fowler) and Joshua Addison Stradley; my full 
name is Walter Preston Stradley. I was reared in Oxford, 
Granville County, North Carolina. I was prepared for col- 
lege in the Horner Military Academy, at Oxford; I had 
attained the rank of captain when I left the school. I entered 
Wake Forest College, Wake County, North Carolina, where 
I graduated in 1887 with the degree of M. A. I then studied 
three years in the department of history and political science 
of the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. Then I 
studied law in Vanderbilt University, taking the degree of 
LL.B. in 1891. 

"I located in Waco, Texas, for the practice of law, where I 
remained only until February, 1892, when I came to San 
Francisco. I may say, in passing, that I have always been 
half sorry I left Texas. Since living there I have practiced 
law and dabbled in politics some. I have canvassed the 
State for the Democratic party every campaign since I have 
lived in California. During the second administration of 
Cleveland I was the Commissioner of Immigration at this 
port, but I did not agree with ^Grover's' financial policy, so 
I campaigned for Bryan in 1896: and I am still an enthusi- 
astic Bryan Democrat. 

"Alas ! alas ! I am a bachelor. I was once in love with the 
prettiest girl in Texas, but — I am a bachelor. Will you 
kindly tell me how much akin we are?' I regret I did not 
know of you when I was in Texas. I should like to know 



^His great-grandfather, William Fowler, was my grandfather God- 
frey's youngest brother. Three of the other sons 'of Godfrey Fowler. 
Sr., namely, David, John, and Godfrey, Jr., emigrated to Tennessee, 
Alabama, and Kentucky, respectively, leaving William on the old 
Fowler homestead in Wake County, but he morea to near Paris, 
Tenn., in 1826. Dr. M. L. Fowler now resides on a part of the old 
lands of his grandfather Godfrey Fowler, Sr.. on the waters of 
Little River, Wake County, North Carolina. (See the division of 
the lands of G. F., Sr.) Bullard was the only son of Godfrey, Sr., 
who died in his native State, North Carolina. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 265 

something of the Fowlers in this State. Of course you know 
that my mother's brother, Hardeman Fowler, lives in Duarte, 
Los Angeles County, California, but there are Fowlers in 
several parts of the State. Are they in any way related to 
me? I shall be pleased to hear from you again. Yours 
trul}^, Walter P. Stradley.'' (Walter P. Stradley, attorney 
at law, 319 Parrott Building, San Francisco.) 

DESCENDANTS OF ELIZA HELEN ( FOWLER ) AND BENJAMIN 
POWELL^ FORMERLY OF WAKE COUNTY^ NORTH CARO- 
LINA^ LATER OF HENRY COUNTY^ TENNESSEE. 

Eliza Helen was one of the ten children of WILLIAM 
FOWLER AND MOURNING (CRUDUP). She was born 
July 11, 1811, in Wake County, North Carolina; married 
Benjamin Powell, formerly of Wake County, then of Henry 
County, Tennessee, December 22, 1828; she died in Johnson 
County, Texas, while on a visit to her two daughters, Mes- 
dames E. B. Ray and M. L. Norton, on December 22, 1882, 
the fifty-fourth anniversary of her marriage. Her husband 
died in 1889, at Eagle Springs, Miss. They had nine 
children : 

I. WILLIAM DEMPSEY, born December 19, 1830; 
married Minerva A. Shoffner in 1857; moved to Arkansas in 
1858, where he practiced medicine; he married three other 
times; died in 1890, near Cotton Plant, Ark., leaving a 
widow and four children: 1, Helen, married Wardwell; 2, 

Minnie, married Jerry Henderson; 3, Lily, married 

Vales; 4, Oscar, unmarried; resides in Pleasant Plains, Ark. 

II. JOSEPH DEVEREAUX, born December 29, 1833; 
married Sallie McFadden, December 27, 1870; issue: 1, 
James; 2, Joe; 3, Stanford; 4, Edna Earle; 5, Sallie; they 
reside in Collierville, Tenn. He belonged to the Fourth 
Tennessee Regiment, C. S. A. 

III. THOMAS A., born December 18, 1835; married 
Susan Keeble in 1857; their issue: 1, Walter; 2, Ella, mar- 
ried Samuel Alexander; 3, Nannie, married Potts; 4, 



26C ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



Mattie; 5, Mollie; 6, William ("Willie"); they reside near 
Holly Springs^ at Potts' Camp, Marshall County, Mississippi. 

IV. BEXJA AXX HELEN, born January 13, 1858; 
married J. W. Keeble of Mount Pleasant, Miss., in 1885; 
their issue : 1, Eobert Lee, Bono, Texas ; 2, John, San An- 
gelo, Texas; 3, Bettie (Mrs. Jeff Wagoner), Knickerbocker, 
Texas; 4, Ruth (Mrs. Wilkins Y. McLaughlin), Bono, Texas; 
5, Alma (Mrs. Hull), Hamilton County, Texas. 

V. GEOEGIANA ISABELLA, born January 17, 1840; 
married Allen Hill, Collierville, Tenn., May 12, 1861; their 
issue: 1, Harry, lives at Eolling Fork, Miss. ; 2, Nettie (Mrs. 
Roemer Johnson), Potts' Camp, Miss.; 3, Mamie, lives with 
her brother Harry. Georgiana I. (Powell) Hill died October 
16, 1899, at Rolling Fork, Miss. 

VI. JOHN CALVIN, born January 17, 1843; he was a 
private in Company C, Fourth Tennessee Regiment, and 
fought so nobly in the battle of Shiloh that he never recov- 
ered his health; he died September 2, 1862, Lauderdale, 
Miss., at nineteen years of age, when he should have been in 
college preparing himself for a useful life; but he died for 
his country. 

VII. MARY MOURNING, born November 15, 1845; 
married James Bell, December 12, 1866; their issue: 1, 
William Russell; 2, Thomas A.; 3, Fraidc; 4, Joe; 5, Kittie. 
James Bell died in 1883 and his widow married George 
Akers in 1894 or 1895, and moved to Woodford, Indian 
Territory. 

VIII. LYDIA CAROLINE, born January 16, 1849; 
married Elisha Boykin Ray (who was born near Chapel Hill, 
N. C, in 1825) on May 10, 1882. He was an early and 
worthy settler of Johnson Count}', and he died on his farm 
at Marystown, Johnson County, Texas, on December 19, 
3 899, leaving his wife a childless widow. (See elsewhere 
her reminiscent letter of much interest.) 

IX. ELIZA JIMMIE ("JIMMIE"), born July 31, 1852; 
married M. L. Norton, September 15, 1874, Tippah County, 
Mississippi; moved to Texas in 1875; died June 13, 1887, 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 267 

McGregor, Texas. Her son Iletclier is a worthy and nseful 
business young man who resides in Waxahachie, Texas, and 
her daugliter Effie, Mrs. Hanimack, resides in Arlington, 
Texas. 

The foregoing data were given in letters of Mrs. Eliza 
Helen Powell, written in 1882, and the recent letters of Mrs. 
Lydia C. Eay, a daughter of the former. She states that she 
was ,named Caroline for the youngest sister of ex-Governor 
Isham G. Harris, late ex-Senator Harris of Tennessee, who 
married Captain James E. Fowler of Henry County, Ten- 
nessee, who was Mrs. Eay's uncle, being a brother to her 
mother. The Lydia is for a Mrs. Eichmond Harris of the 
same family. If there are any discrepancies in these facts 
I am unable to correct them, as 1 give them just as they 
have been given to me. As a rule women are more prone 
than men to draw on their imagination when their stock of 
facts is exhausted, but I have requested facts only in every 
instance. 

FAMILY OF MRS. NETTIE m'CULLOUGH (hILL) JOHNSON AND 

HER HUSBAND^ ROEMER JOHNSON^ TACALEECHI^ OR 

POTTS^ CAMP^ BENTON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI 

Nettie McCullough (Hill) Johnson is the eldest daughter 
of Mrs. Georgia I. (Powell) and Allen Hill; she was born 
October 7, 1871, one mile of Collierville, Shelby County, 
Tennessee; she was married to Eoemer Johnson (who was 
born July 15, 1859, Tacaleechi, Benton County, Mississippi), 
on December 23, 1890, at Eagle Springs, Marshall County, 
Mississippi. Their children : 

I. THELMA, born November 16, 1891, at Tacaleechi, 
Benton County, Mississippi. 

II. V. M., born January 21, 1894, Tacaleechi. 

III. ^'BULLET'' (not named), born June 27, 1895, 
Tacaleechi. 

IV. LOUISE, born December 3, 1896, Tacaleechi. 



268 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

The foregoing data were given by Mrs. Johnson when she 
sent her subscription to the family record in Februar}^, 
1900. 

MRS. ELIZA HELEN" ( FOWLER ) POWELL, THE CONNECTING 
LINK BETWEEN THE FOWLERS PAST AND PRESENT. 

In the summer of 1882 my brother Henry Bascom Fowler 
was called by business to the little town of Banks, McLennan 
County, Texas. While there he received an invitation from a 
Mrs. Powell requesting him to call on her, as she was an 
old lady and she believed he was one of her Fowler relatives 
in Texas she was looking for. He called and met a very 
bright and interesting old lady wdio readily placed him in 
the family line where he belonged. She told him she was 
the daughter of William, wlio was the youngest brother of 
Godfrey, Jr., which made her the cousin of Henry's father. 
Her delight in meeting a descendant of her long dead Uncle 
Godfrey was very pleasant to m}^ brother, and should be a 
lesson to us cold-hearted Fowlers of this day and generation, 
should it not? We may ask as often as our selfish motives 
prompt, "Am I my brother's keeper?'' while the fact ever 
remains that "blood is thicker than water" and the house 
divided against itself can not withstand its enemies. 

Mrs. Pow^ell promised to write all she could remember con- 
cerning the Fowlers who had left the old Xorth State in 
search of homes in some Southern land more favored. A 
repetition of her letter would be out of place, as the informa- 
tion has been embodied in the family data and duly accredited 
to her as the authority. She was then seventy-one years of 
age, and she called herself "the last female of the Old Wake 
County line," meaning, of course, of her generation. She 
was visiting at the time with her two daughters, Lydia (TVTrs. 
E. D. Ray) and Jimmie (Mrs. M. L. N'orton), who lived in 
Marystown, Johnson County, and Banks, McLennan County, 
respectively. Her letter is dated July 22, 1882, and is in 
my possession at the present and sacredly valued. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 269 

LETTER OF MRS. LYDIA CAROLINE ( POWELL ) RAY^ OF MARYS- 
TOWN^ JOHNSON COUNTY^ TEXAS. 

''Oct. 29, 1899.— Mrs. J. J. Arthur, Austin, Texas: My 
Dear Relative, — I never met your brother Henry B., but I 
remember my mother met him in McGregor — the place was 
called Banks then. He visited her at my sister s, Mrs. M. L. 
Norton's. Mother died in December of that year (1882) 
after a brief illness with pneumonia. 

"I wish you had written me before I visited Paris, Tenn., 
two years ago; perhaps I could then have gotten an interest- 
ing sketch of Uncle James Fowler, who was living at that 
time. I met him in Nashville, at the Centennial and Con- 
federate reunion. I went home with him and spent a week. 
I was only five years old when my father moved from Henry 
Count}^ to Shelby County, Tennessee, and I had never been 
back since until this visit. Grandpa^s (William Fowler) 
house, built away back in the thirties, looked just as I had 
seen it last. His son. Uncle James, was living in the first 
house he had gone to housekeeping in. He was a captain in 
the Confederate army; I have his picture taken in his uni- 
form. 

"There is no picture of grandpa; he never had any taken. 
I have only a very poor one of mother [Mrs. Eliza Helen 
(Fowler) Powell]. I have pictures of Aunt Piety Hester 
(Fowler) Wiggs, later Mrs. B. M. Doak, of Holly Springs, 
Miss., and of Aunt Harriet (Fowler) Greer; also Aunt Mary 
(Fowler) Dunn. I have no family records whatever. I have 
heard my mother say that her cousin John W. Fowler, of 
Memphis,, obtained a valuable record of grandpa before his 
death, in 185-1; the cousin John was preparing a family tree. 
Could you get hold of that information you would no doubt 
be greatly aided. I have no idea where any of his descendants 
are, or what use he ever made of the data. 

"If you will write to William H. Greer, Paris, Tenn., he 
might tell you about the kindred in Henry County. His 
sister, Mrs. Mary Hasting, Springville, Tenn., could also aid 



270 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILT. 

YOU, if she would. Mrs. M. J. Ezzell, Greenfield, Weakley 
Count}', is a daughter of Aunt Martha (Fowler) Dollahite, 
and she could tell you of her brothers and sisters. 

"My grandfather went on horseback from Xorth Carolina 
to Tennessee in 1823 or 1824. [It was in 1825, quoting Mrs. 
E. H. Powell as authority.] He laid claim to several tracts 
of government lands in Henry and Obion counties and then 
returned to Xorth Carolina for his family, moving them to 
the former county, where he located very near the present 
town of Paris, where he continued to reside until his death 
in 1854, at the ripe age of seventy-five years. 

"You ask if I ever heard whether the Xorth Carolina 
Fowlers rendered any military service to that State during 
the war of the Eevolution. 1 never heai'd it mentioned by 
my mother, but I rememljer hearing her say that Uncle 
Xathan A^erser, husband of our Aunt Xancy, was in the war. 
I also remember hearing her repeat the story of her grand- 
mother (who was Eahab Cooper, the wife of Godfrey, Senior) 
about the British when my grandfather was her baby. She 
and her children were in the kitchen and she was spinning, 
when, just as she was drawing out a thread, she glanced up 
the road and saw the British coming; she hastily raised the 
trapdoor and bade all of the children enter the cellar and 
keep wonderfully cpiict; she then took her babe — my grand- 
father — and went up in the attic. The English soldiers 
entered the house and she could hear them laughing about 
frightening all the women and children away. They re- 
mained only long enough to eat up a lot of roasted potatoes 
and drink all the brandy in the house. They then left with- 
out discovering either hidiiig place." [It is inferred from 
this story that the men of her family were in the patriot 
army; else why should she fear the British soldiers?] 

"Our great-grandmother was a Miss Cooper; she had one 
brother — George — who lived on the line between Xorth Caro- 
lina and Tennessee, near the Virginia State line. He was 
quite distinguished for his wealth. If you were to inquire 
through some leading newspapers of Virginia for the Coopers 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 271 

of that State, perhaps you could learn much of her and her 
family. 

"The Henry County kindred ought to be able to help you 
with much information, for they have lived there so many 
years. Do you know anything of the Abernathys, of Henry 
County? One of great-uncle David Fowler's daughters mar- 
ried an Abernathy. [Rebecca Fowler, his second daughter, 
married Smith Abernathy.] My father moved from Henry 
County in 1854 to Collierville, Shelby County, near Memphis, 
when I was only five years old. During the Civil War, when 
the Federals came into the State, they burned our house and 
destroyed everything except a few relics my mother saved; 
but our family record was lost. 

"I was named for the wife of my uncle James E. Fowler 
of near Paris, Tenn. ; she was Caroline Harris, a sister of the 
late Senator Isham G. Harris of Tennessee. Lydia is for 
his sister-in-law, Mrs. Lydia Harris. 

'^My grandfather William Fowler was the youngest child 
of Godfre}^, Sr., and Rahab (Cooper), and when he was an 
infant she wept a great deal over him, because she felt that 
she would never live to rear him, yet she lived to the age of 
105 years and nursed his fifth child's child, who was my 
brother William Powell. 

"The descendants of the Eev. David Fowler ought to be 
able to tell you a great deal about her, for she lived with him 
in Hardeman County for many years. She died at the home 
of Mrs. Bathsheba Fowkr,^' widow of her son Bullard, in 
west Tennessee, — I think it was near Huntingdon. Bullard 
married Bathsheba Crudup, a sister of Mourning Crudup,' 
who married his brother William — my grandfather. Bullard 
died in North Carolina prior to 1825 and his widow and 
children went to Blount County, Alabama, to live near their 
father's brother John; from there they came to west Tennes- 

^The papers of Col. J. W. Fowler state that she died at the home 
of the Rev. David, or at Daniel Verser's, near Denmark, Tenn. ; there- 
fore, both authorities are given. 



272 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

see, while two sous. Dr. Josiah and Godfrey, remained in 
Alabama. 

"There is a sad romance about the eldest daughter of 
great-uncle Bullard Fowder; her name w^as Tillitha. She 
never married, although she w^as engaged three times, but 
all three terminated disastrously. In the first instance her 
intended was thrown by his horse and killed w^hile he was 
on his way to wed her; the next one sickened and died near 
the wedding-day; the third went to Holly Springs on busi- 
ness just j^rior to his marriage, and he died there among 
strangers. She had suitors afterwards, but she never prom- 
ised to marry anyone again. 

"Lucinda, the second daughter of Bullard, married Tilman 
Johnson and reared a large family in either Henry or Weak- 
ley County, Tennessee. Louisa, the third, married White, 
and Lacy or Emil}^, one of the succeeding daughters, married 
her brother-in-law after the death of Louisa. [Corrected 
elsew'here.] 

"Have you any record of iJie descendants of John Fowler, 
another brother of our grandfather? He was a Baptist 
preacher and emigrated from North Carolina to North Ala- 
l)ama at an early day and reared a large family there. [It 
was in Blount County, and the little valley he settled in is 
known as ^Fowder^s Cove^ to this day. He had a son David, 
who in turn had a son David, who resides in ^the Cove' at 
present; the postoffice is Gum Spring.] 

"Ask me any questions you wish to ask and I shall endeavor 
to answer them to the best of my knowledge and memory. 
I am becoming quite interested in the family record. Lov- 
ingly, Lydia C. Eay."' [Daughter of Mrs. E. H. (Fowder) 
Powell.] 

Some w^omen have a decided fondness for family remin- 
iscences, and I judge that Mrs. Eay has inherited this inter- 
esting trait from her very interesting mother, wdiose letter 
set me on my quest for "our ancestors.'' Women, as a rule, 
have more time for remembering traits and incidents of dif- 
ferent members of the related families. They talk them over 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 273 

as they mingle in the home work; and on rainy days and 
winter nights something of the dear past is suggested by the 
snatch of a song, the odor yl a flower, or the similarity of 
the weather, when one begins, — "It was just such a night 
as this when'' — and immediately everyone listens. 

DESCENDANTS OF JAMES EDWIN FOWLER AND ELIZABETH 

(young) FOIVLER^ NEAR CLARKSVILLE^ ARK. 

(JOHNSON county). 

These facts and dates are most kindly given by Joseph 
Edwin Fowler, who is yet a minor, but the eldest son of 
James Edwin Fowler: 

JAMES EDWIN FOWLEK is the only surviving heir of 
WILLIAM JOHN FOWLEE and CZAEIXA (DUNCAN) 
FOWLEE. William John was the third son and ninth child 
of WILLIAM AND MOUENING (CEUDUP) FOWLEE, 
of Wake County, North Carolina. He was born May 5, 1818 
(presumably in Wake County, North Carolina, as his father 
did not emigrate to Tennessee until 182(3), and he married 
Czarina Duncan, August 25, 1853, and they had three chil- 
dren, two of whom died in infancy; the third is James E. 
Fowler of Clarksville, Ark. (See data of W. H. Greer.) 

JAMES EDWIN, born January 4, 1856; married ELIZA- 
BETH YOUNG, November 29, 1876, near Paris, Tenn. 
His wife was born September 5, 1856. Their children: 

I. MAEY HALL, born May 21, 1878; died September 10, 
1879, near Paris, Tenn. 

II. JOSEPH EDWIN, born October 5, 1881. A quota- 
tion from his letter of January 4, 1900, says: "My own 
education is yet unfinished; what I have was received in the 
public schools of Arkansas. I intend to enter our State 
University, at Fayetteville, Ark., and later to study law, per- 
haps at Little Eock." 

III. JOHN SAMUEL, born October 15, 1883. 

IV. HATTIE, born December 23, 1885 ; died January 23, 
1895, near Clarksville, Ark. 

18 — Fowler. 



274 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

V. ELSIE, bom July 3, 1890. 

YI. PAUL, born September 37, 1894; died October 26, 
1895, near Clarksville, Ark. 

Joseph Edwin furthermore says: "My father has a mod- 
erately good education; he attended school in Conyersville, 
Tenn., his native town, also in Paris and McKenzie. He is 
a Christian, but belongs to ]io denomination; my mother is 
also a Christian and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal 
church. Father came from Tennessee to Johnson County, 
Arkansas, in 1881, where he has since remained. He is a 
farmer and a strong supporter of Democracy." 



CHAPTER XIII. 

"Despise not your situation in life; in it you must act, suffer, 
and conquer. From every point on earth we are equally near to 
Heaven and the Infinite." 

DESCENDANTS OF MARTHA ( FOWLER ) AND HENRY VADEN^ OF 

VIRGINIA. 

It is with much pleasure that I give here this record, for 
more reasons than one. Mr. Chalkley has wonderfully en- 
couraged me with his kind and painstaking interest when all 
the others were negative and uninterested. Then, too, so few 
of the Fowler women and their descendants could be traced, 
for when a woman marries she loses her identity. By the 
way, what a sensible custom the women of the present day 
have made for themselves, that of retaining their family 
name for a middle name after marriage. 

MARTHA FOWLEE was the youngest daughter and child 
of- GODFEEY and SUSAXNAH FOWLER of Henrico 
County, Virginia. She is mentioned in the will of Godfrey, 
inheriting his leather chair. She married HENRY VADEN" 
prior to 1735; died prior to 1747, for no mention is made 
of her in the will of her husband in 1747, the year of his 
death. He was born September 12, 1694(?). 

Paul and Clara Vaden are colonists mentioned in the notes 
on John Fowler the First, for whose transportation to the 
colony John received so much land, and whose headrights 
John F. gave in when he patented land in 1673. The name 
"Vaden" is spelled "Varden'' in the emigrant list, and I 
presume it w^as spelled as it sounded in the English pro- 
nunciation. 

Martha (Fowler) and Henry Vaden had nine children: 
Joseph, Burwell, William, Ladwick, Henry, Martha, Susan- 
nah, Mary, Ann. 

WILLIAM VADEN", third son of Henry and Martha, 
married Frances Wilson; he died 1776; they had Gardner, 



270 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Daniel, John, George, Phoebe, Elizabeth, and Frances. 
1, GARDNER, married Frances; died 1794; had George 
and Frances. 4, GEORGE A^4DEX, son of Gardner and 

Frances, married Sarah ; had George, Thomas, Francis, 

Wilson, Michael, Littleherry, Dickerson, Elizabeth, Lncy, and 
Sarah. Their descendants are living in Skinquarter neighbor- 
hood, Chesterfield County, Virginia, near where their ances- 
tors patented land two centuries and one-half ago. 

II. DAXIEL VADEIS^, second son of William and Fran- 
ces, married Valinche; he died 1793; they had Herod, Daniel, 
Appelona, Elizabeth, Masey. Appelona married Marshall 
Vaden, 1808, in Chesterfield County. 

III. JOHN VADEX, third son of William and Frances, 

married Ann ; he died about 1790, in Chesterfield 

County, Virginia; they had Wilson, Henry, Marshall (who 
married his cousin, Appelona Vaden, 1808), William, John, 
Solomon, Ammonett, Aggy, Phoebe, Frances, Betteste, Polly. 
The first son, Wilson, married Dicey Moore, 1796. Am- 
monett, the seventh son, married ; he died 1810; had a 

son Daniel. " 

V. HEXRY VADEX, fifth son of Henry and Martha 
(Fowder) Vaden, born February 6, 1725, baptized March 28; 
he married three times, first, SusannaliTrreen ; second, Judith 
Hanks, a widow (born Old) ; third, Susannah Smith. He 
removed early in life to Amelia County, about twenty miles 
from his birthplace in Chestrrfield. He had Mary and Ann 
Fowler Vaden by his wife Judith. I. MARY, married 
BxVRNEs: had several children, one a daughter who married 
Bkaxcii, and lives in Charlotte, N. C, and a son living in 
Amelia County, Virginia. She has descendants named 
BoissEAu living in Richmond, Va. 2, AXX FOWLER 
VADEX, born about 1785, in Amelia County; died in 1867, 
in Richmond; she married James Chappell in Amelia 
County, 1806; they had James A., died unmarried; William, 
Henry, died unmarried in Xew Orleans before 1860; Robert, 
died unmarried; Judith Ann; Mary E.; Martha Fowler; 
Sarah F. ; Eliza, died unmarried. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 277 

II. WILLIAM CHAPPELL, second son of James Chap- 
pell and Ann Fowler (Vaden) Chappell, was born in Amelia 
Count}^, l)nt moved to Bullitt County, Kentucky, early in the 
Nineteenth century; he mai'ried Adeline, granddaughter of 
his uncle William Chappell. He afterwards removed to 
Lawrenceburg, Ind., and engaged in banking and farming. 
He died of consumption, leaving two daughters, Sarah and 
Virginia, who lived to womanhood but died unmarried. Wil- 
liam Chappell was a man of fine literary attainments and 
was much beloved. There is now living an old gentleman, 
who, when asked to describe this William Chappell, replied, 
"I haven^t language sufficient; he was the true type of a 
gentleman without spot or blemish.'^ 

JORDAISr FAMILY. 

JUDITH ANN CHAPPELL married Noble Jordan, of 
Powhatan County, Virginia, August 26, 1828; she died in 
that county March 24, 1881. She was the eldest daughter of 
Ann Fowler (Vaden) and James Chappell; was born January 
10, 1810. She was beloved by relatives, friends, and neigh- 
bors. She was a Christian who grew old gracefully, and who 
grew stronger day by day in all the Christian virtues. She 
had children: William Noble, Annie Ellen, Beverly W., De 
Witt Clinton, Susan Marion, Eobert Henry, died unmarried; 
John Oscar, Martha Washington, James Chappell, Frank 
Lewis. 

I. WILLIAM NOBLE JOED AN, born June 19, 1829; 
married Betty Haws Cowghill; had William Chappell, who is 

married. and has issue, and Mar}^, who married Sledd, 

and has issue. William Noble Jordan married second wife, 
Margaret Symington, and lives in North Carolina. 

II. ANNIE ELLEN JOEDAN, born July 7, 1831; mar- 
ried John W. Hall; lives in Orange County, Virginia; has 
Julian A., married Elizabeth AVilson, lives in Henry County, 
Virginia ; Annie K., married to John Pearson, has daughter 
Annie and lives in Easton, Pa. 



278 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

III. BEVERLY W. JOEDA^, born March 6, 1833; mar- 
ried Henrietta A. Schrayer ; died . 

IV. DE WITT CLINTON, born April 4, 1835; married 
Mary E. Bridgewater; died October 2, 1889, leaving one 
daughter, Mary Oscar Jordan, who lives in Eichmond, un- 
married. 

V. SUSAN MAEION JOEDAN, born February 3, 1837; 
married to Otway H. Chalkley^ October 12, 1855; had 
Ernest H., Charles H., and Lyman. 1, EENEST HOWELL 
CHALKLEY, born March 1, 1857, in Powhatan County, 
Virginia; married Sarah H. Winn, in Eichmond, April 19, 
1881; has Otway H., born December 23, 1883; lives in Eich- 
mond, Va. 2, CHAELES H., born August 4, 1858, in Pow- 
hatan County; died in Eichmond, September 13, 1896, when 
he was a practicing physician of that city. He married 
Jennie H. Harrison of Eichmond. 3, LYMAN, born October 
20, 1861, in Eichmond; married Elinor Breckenridge of 
Lexington, Ky. ; has a son Lyman and a daughter. He 
practices law in Staunton, Va., and is judge of Augusta 
County Court. 

VII. JOHN OSCAE JOED AN, born October 2, 1842; 
married Alice Elzy and has several sons and daughters, the 
eldest named Graham ; they live at Clifton Forge, Va. 

VIII. MAETHA WASHINGTON JOEDAN married 
WILLIAM H. CAEHAET of Powhatan County, August 26, 
1880; she was born November 29, 1844; died 1899, leaving 
two daughters, Martha Washington and Willie Chappell Car- 
hart. 

IX. JAMES CHAPPELL JOEDAN, born May 20, 1848; 
married first wife, Alice Murray, and had Noble, Irwin, 
Francis Lewis; married second wife, Samantha Murray, and 
had Annie and another daughter; they live in Powhatan 
County, Virginia. 

X. FEANK LEWIS JORDAN, born May 4, 1848 ( ?) — 
[mistake somewhere]; married Minnie ; has no chil- 
dren; lives in Fort Worth, Texas. 

MAEY E. CHAPPELL married Samuel H. Jones, 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 279 

August 36, 1828, the same day her sister Judith Ann mar- 
ried Noble Jordan. She was the second daughter of James 
Chappell and Ann (Fowler) Vaden, and was born in Amelia 
County; moved to Koanoke County after her marriage, and 
later remo.ved to Jackson County, Missouri; she died in the 
latter State in 1884. She and her sister and their husbands 
lived to celebrate their golden weddings. Mary E. (Chap- 
pell) and S. H. Jones had: 1, Ann Eliza, married Chas. A. 
Young, died without issue, 1853; 2, Virginia, married Dr. 
Thos. H. Barnes, has hve children and live in Carroll 
County, Missouri; 3, James C, died in Oregon, 1883; 4, Ed- 
ward Henry, married Betty Walker, lives at Blue Springs, 
Mo., has a daughter Ida M., v. ho married Miller ; 5, Martha, 
married Benjamin Conley, died without issue, 1856; 6, 
Ellen, married D. C. Williams and lives in Texas; 7, Wil- 
liam Henry, married Lucy Montgomery, lives in Jackson 
County, Missouri, and has six children ; 8, Robert, a soldier 
in Confederate army, and disappeared ; 9, Julia, married, 
first W. H. Smith, second, Geo. Robinson, has two children; 
10, Elizabeth, died unmarried; 11, Herbert, married Harriet 
Hill, lives in Carroll County, Missouri; 12, Fanny, married 
N. B. Smith; 13, Thomas Chappell, married Minnie Howell, 
after whose death he went to Colorado. 

MARTHA FOWLER CHAPPELL married William 
PucKETT, in Amelia County, Virginia, November 28, 1842. 
She was born November 27, 1814; died June 14, 1893, in 
Richmond. She was the third daughter of Ann Fowler 
(Vaden) Chappell and James Chappell. She had: 1, James 

Chappell, born August 25, 1843, married , has a 

daughter, Lena Claybank, born March 25, 1872; 2, Fletcher 
A., born March 28, 1848, lives in Richmond, unmarried. 

SARAH F. CHAPPELL married Samuel G. Flournoy. 
She was the fourth daughter of Ann Fowler (Vaden) and 
James Chappell; she died in Richmond in 1899; she had 
Samuel C, Jr., married and has issue in Richmond; 2, 
Richard, married and has issue ; lives in Newport News, Va. ; 
3, a married daughter (name not given). 



280 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

As already seen^ the foregoing information is regarding the 
descendants of Martlia Fowler, the youngest and the second 
daughter of Godfrey Fowler the First of Henrico County, 
Virginia. The line of Joseph the First of ^Yake County, 
i*^orth Carolina, is the other line followed out, and the only 
one known to this record. Joseph and his sister Martha must 
have been near to each other in affection as they were in age, 
he being the youngest son. Martha's first born was named 
Joseph, and Joseph had a daughter Martha. They each had 
a son Burwell, as well as daughters Susannah and Mary, the 
former for their mother, I presume. Each one had a son 
William also, but it seems that every family has a William, 
a John, and a Mary. 

Relative to the Rev. James Chappell, son of Abraham 
Chappell, I quote from the Chappell genealogy: "He was 
ordained a minister of the Methodist church, December 24, 
1807, and continued actively in the ministry for fifty-five 
years. He was well known ^ in all of that part of Virginia, 
and was distinguished for his piety and eloquence. No man 
was more respected and beloved by both white and black, and 
he was universally called 'Father Chappell.^ In his- per- 
sonal appearance he was a typical Chappell — tall and spare, 
with dark complexion and black hair. He died in Amelia 
County in 1862.'^ The name of his wife is given as Nancy 
Fowler Vaden, Ijut Mr. Chalkley gives the name as Anx. 
Martha Fowler had only one sister and her name was Ann, 
as seen in the will of Godfrey Fowler, her father. It was 
to Ann, the elder daughter, that Godfrey willed a "Seal Skin 
Trunk," while Martha got the "Leather Chair.'' All of their 
brothers got land by the hundred acres, but then the 
daughters were supposed to marry their lands, and if they 
failed to marry, their brothers were expected to support 
them. 




ION. GODFREY B. FOWLER, JONESVILLE, S. C. 2. MRS. COLUMBIA (FOWLER) 
HOLDING, WAKE FOREST. N. C. 3. MRS. JIMMIE POWELL, NORTON, 
TEXAS. 4. JOSEPH JOHN BROWN, BUNTYN, TENN. 



CHAPTEE XIV. 

"The aim in life is what the backbone is to the body; without it 
we are invertebrate, belonging to some order of being not yet man. ' 



GODPKEY B. FOWLER^ OF JONESVILLE, UNION COUNTY^ SOUTH 

CAKOLINA. 

He writes : ^'I am satisfied that we are of the same family 
of Fowlers. My father's name was Joseph. He moved to 
Texas in 1852 and died the same year, and was buried at 
Rusk Court House, Cherokee County. I was then ahout 
twelve years old. My mother moved back to South Carolina 
the same year. My grandfather's name was Godfrey, who 
was born in Virginia, I think; as to that fact I am not cer- 
tain, but I know positively that he grew up, lived, and died 
in this State. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, and 
when all of the pensioners of South Carolina in that war were 
dead but eight, four of the number were Fowlers, — my father, 
Godfrey, and his two brothers, Wymac and Mark, with a 
cousin. The Fowlers of this State were not wealthy men 
but respectably well to do. 

'^My great-grandfather was named Ellis Fowler, and he 
came from Virginia. He was a lieutenant of the company 
of Captain Sims of Pickens' command, I believe, in the 
war of the Revolution. He was married a second time 
when up in years, so I have been told, and when he died 
his widow left South Carolina, but no one seems to know 
where, she went. I have heard also that Lieutenant Ellis 
was a large, stout man, and that he entered the Revolution- 
ary War when only seventeen years of age; so his father 
must have been in the prime of manhood, if he was then 
alive. Ellis had six sons and one daughter, — Wymac, God- 
frey, Mark, Ephraim, Ellis, and William. His will is on 
record here ; he gave to Wymac and William the tract of land 
on which Wymac was then living; to Godfrey, Ephraim, and 



282 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



Ellis the Ivigert tract; to Mark the tract on which he lived; 
to his daughter another tract ; and he provided for his widow, 
giving her also his personal property." 

Following is a letter from Miss S. A. Sims, of Grindal, 
Union County, giving the military connection of Captain 
Charles Sims and Lieutenant Ellis Fowler, also the long- 
standing friendship of the two families. Miss Sims is a 
daughter of Major J. S. Sims, who was a member of the 
secession convention which declared South Carolina out of 
the Union. She is a lady of high social standing, and they 
were wealthy before the war : 

'The Union-Times, April 24, 1897.— Two Eevolutionary 
soldiers, Charles Sims and Ellis Fowler, came to South Caro- 
lina about 1773-1774 and settled on Tinker Creek, which is 
now in Union County. When war was declared with Eng- 
land, C. Sims returned to Virginia and raised a company 
which was mustered into service at Albemarle Court House, 
in 1777, he holding his commission from Patrick Henry, who 
was then Governor of Virginia. The company was ordered 
to upper Carolina and attached to Pickens' command, so I 
believe. Charles Sims was made captain and Ellis Fowler 
was first lieutenant. 

"Lieutenant Fowler was a Virginian of excellent family, 
and always the tried and true friend of his companion and 
captain. He was a man of powerful stature, great physical 
endurance, with unflinching courage; of strict integrity, 
truthfulness, and fidelity in all things confided to his trust. 

"When the Tories burnt Captain Sims' house and turned 
hi? wife and children adrift without clothing or food, as 
they did so many Whig families, Captain Sims resolved to 
send them back to Virginia under the escort of Lieutenant 
Fowler, who conducted them safely through their perilous 
journey. Just beyond the Xorth Carolina line they sought 
the hospitality of a Colonel Wymac, who received them with 
old Virginia hospitality and helped them on their way to the 
home of Matthew Sims, of Koanoke. Lieutenant Fowler 
named a son after the military friend, who was a friend 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



283 



indeed in the hour of need. I can recall the appearance of 
Mr Ellis Fowler (son of the lieutenant), a tall, fair man, 
with a deep and most powerful voice, kindly and gentle m all 
his ways. I wish I could remember the stories of the Revo- 
lution ^le was so fond of talking over with my dear old 
grandfather William Sims, the only son of Captain Charles 
Sims. S. A. Sims.*" 

The Hon. Godfrey B. Fowler continues; -'When I was a 
boy I remember we had a relative m North Carolina whose 
name was Fowler; it is my recollection that he kept a 
country store. AVe had kindred m Tennessee, also. Now, as 
to the family name of Godfrey, let me tell you a little cir- 
cumstance which made little impression on me at the time, 
but I recall it since you wish to know about the origin of the 
name. Just before the secession war, when I was liable to 
military duty,-being eighteen years of age,-I was elected 
captain of a militia company. Our muster ground was m 
the old field of Major J. P. Dawkins. My grandfather God- 
frey Fowler was in General Dawkins' brigade in the War of 
1812, and one of his comrades was a Jessy James, son of an 
^old revolutioner,' Sherrod James. Major Dawkins and old 
Mr. J. James came to see me drill my company. After tire 
drill was finished they both came to me and called me ^old 
General Godfrey,' and told me about him. I was modest 
enough to think they wanted to encourage me, so I simply 
thanked them and thought no m.ore about it. 

"My grandfather Godfrev Fowler had six sons and three 
daughters: James, Thomas, Milligan, Coleman, William, 
Joseph, and Molly, Betsy, and Kiziah. Joseph, my father, 
had sons-Hampton E., Adoiphus J., John H., Godfrey B., 
and Joseph. I am the only living son of Joseph, and I have 
only one living sister. I have seen the record of a purchase 
of 400 acres of land by my grandfather Godfrey Fowler m 
1818 I do most of the surveying in my section, and it 
makes me sad to cut up the old Godfrey's lands that have 
passed out of the possession of the family. 

"Perhaps you would like to know what became of my 



284 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

father's sisters. Molly married John McWhirter, and both 
Betsy and Kiziah married Charles McWhirter. Two of 
Charles^ sons moved to Texas, and one bearing his name is a 
Methodist preacher in your State. I do not know whether he 
is the grandson of my aunt Betsy or Kizzy. 

^'Before passing on, let me say that my grandfather God- 
frey Fowler married his cousin Nannie Kelly ; I do not know 
how the relationship came about, but I presume that a Kelly 
married a sister of Godfrey's father Ellis. Kellys now own 
a part of the land uhich was willed by Ellis to his children. 
They keep up the name Ellis to this day. William Fowler, 
son of Godfrey, died a young man; he was a school-teacher 
and surveyor. Wymac Fowler named one of his sons Wil- 
liam ; Mark had a son Ellis ; and Lieutenant Ellis' son Ellis 
named his son, in turn, ElJis; so you see we keep up the 
old names, as we presume oui- forefathers did. I have heard 
that Lieutenant Ellis had a brother Eeuben, and I know my 
father had a cousin Eeuben called ^little Eeuben.' 

"My only son is about twenty-eight years old and is named 
Nathaniel Steedman, the former for my maternal grandfather 
Foster and the latter for my captain, James B. Steedman 
(pronounce it Stedman) in the Confederate army. Ella is 
my stepdaughter, Mrs. Betsill, Crosskeys. You could not see 
our son's mouth for his mustache in his picture; he has a 
Fowler mouth, for the front teeth are a little prominent We 
Fowlers have thin, fine, light hair. My forehead is not as 
i^ood a Fo^^ ler forehead as Steedman's. 

o 

"'My uncle James Fowler was my father's oldest brother; 
he had an only daughter Sallie, who married a McLuska, of 
Georgia, and they now live in Arkansas, I think. Before the 
war cousin Sallie was at school in Salem, N. C, where she 
met other Fowlers, when she wrote home for information of 
her family. I do not know whether they made out a clear 
case of kinship or not, but I remember her father wrote her 
fully of his family, and could I find her I believe I could 
go back of Ellis, Senior. 

"James T. Fowler is a son of Henry Ellis Fowler; he is 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 285 

about twenty-eight 3^ears old and a smarts glib talker, but 
fiery, — our Fowlers are built that way. Some of the family 
traits are a quick resentment of a wrong, a fearless opinion 
on any and every question, with a bold fidelity to a relative 
or a friend/^ 

Hon. Godfrey B. Fowler was a member of the South Caro- 
lina Legislature in 1897. 

Lieutenant Ellis Fowler, of Union County, South Carolina, 
was a large, fair man, with a deep voice. He was the father 
of six sons and one daughter: WYMAC, GODFEEY, 
MARK, EPHRAIM, ELLIS, JR., and WILLIAM; name 
of daughter not given. Lieutenant Ellis Fowler died abou.t 
1808 or 1809. 

GODFREY FOWLER had six sons and three daughters: 
JAMES, THOMAS, MILLIGAN, COLEMAN, WILFJAM, 
and JOSEPH; MOLLY, BETSY, and KIZIAH. He was 
a soldier of the War of 181:3, and he died in 185 L 

JOSEPH FOW^LER, son of GODFREY, haa live sons 
and one daughter : HAMPTON E., ADOLPHUS J,, JO H N 
H., GODFREY BUTLER, and JOSEPH, JR.- name of 
daughter not ghen. He was born in 1799 and died in 
1852. 

GODFREY BUTLER FOWLER, son of JOSEPH, was 
born in Union County, South Carolina, 1837 (January 20) ; 
served in Confederate army in the company of Captain 
James B. Steedman; married, in 1865, Mrs. Louisa Jane 
Horn (born Mitchell),^ widow of Benson Horn, who was 
killed at the battle of Lookout Mountain, Tenn. His step- 
daughter Ella, Mrs. J. Fincher Betsill, of Crosskeys, Union 
County, South Carolina, was educated at Charleston, and 
married in 1884. 

NATHANIEL STEEDMAN FOWLER, the only child 
of GODFREY BUTLER FOWLER, was born in 1867, and 
educated at Jonesville, Union County, South Carolina; is 

^Mrs. Louisa (Mitchell) Fowler is the daughter of Elison Mitchell, 
and great-granddaughter of the Rev. Elias Mitchell; sne was born 
in 1844. 



286 ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

conductor on the Columbia, Xewberry & Laurens Railroad, 
and resides in Columbia, S. C; is unmarried. 

Addresses of other Fowlers of South Carolina: 

James T. Fowler, a Methodist preacher, of Kelton, Union 
County. 

Dr. Wade Fowler died about ten years ago (G. B. F.). 

James W. Fowler is a brother to the Dr. Fowler men- 
tioned. 




1. MRS. MART DANIEL (FOWLER) GLENN, NEAR PALESTINE, TEXAS. 2. HON. THEOPHILUS 

GILLIAM FOWLER, UNIONTOWN, ALA. 3. HON. ISAAC CHAPMAN FOWLER, 

ABINGDON, VA. 4. MRS. DORA (FOWLER) ARTHUR, AUSTIN, TEXAS. 



CHAPTEE XV. 



'O world, as God has made it. All is beauty: 
And knowing this, is love, and love is duty." 

— [Broivning. 



DESCENDANTS OF ALEXANDER FOWLER OF VIRGINIA 

For the following information I am indebted to Mr. Thos. 
M. Fowler, of Louisa County, Virginia, and the Hon. 
Theophilus Gilliam Fowler, of Uniontown, Ala., both o'f 
whom are members of my maternal line of Fowlers of Vir- 
ginia. Interesting letters from both of these gentlemen are 
given place, also, for I am inclined to believe this line of 
Alexander Fowler, with the Sherwood Fowler line, v/ill throw 
much needed light on the Virginia Fowlers. 

ALEXANDEE FOWLEE married MAGDALINE 
SMITH. He was born August 30, 1755; died November 3, 
1821. She was born July 25, 1759; died February 24, 1839. 
They had eight children, three sons and five daughters, viz. : 
I. THOMAS, married MAEY SPEAIES; had I. William 
S., married Martha Ann Sheiton; he was born December 12, 
1810; died August, 1896; they had issue: 1, Mary S., mar- 
ried Preston Quarles and had William B. and John E. ; the 
latter married Agnes Eust. Mary S. (Fowler) Quarles mar- 
ried second husband, Elijah E. Kemper, had 1, Charles, died 
in United States army, Spanish- American war; 2, Mary E.; 
3, A. Scott Kemper, dead. II. Thomas Meredith, born Jan- 
uary 3, 1841 ; soldier in Confederate States army in Civil 
War; school teacher; took degree B. L. in law school of the 
University of Virginia and practiced law from 1870-'83; 
from 1883-'94 was librarian of Virginia State Law Library, 
Eichmond; resides on his farm near Shelf ar P. 0., Louisa 
County, Virginia. 3. John S., a gallant and brave cavalry- 
man in the Virginia army, C. S. A., killed in the battle of 
Kelly's Ford, 1863. (See T. M. F.'s letter.) 4. David, dead. 



288 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

II. Tho]MAS Fowler, Je., second son of THOMAS^ SK., 
married Fanny Blunt; had Clifford Fowler, who married 
Card well and had Ida Fowler. 

II. JACOB, second son of ALEXAXDER F. and MAG- 

DALIXE (SMITH) FOWLER, married Ware; moved 

to Louisiana; nothing more known of them. 

III. MAGDALIXE, eldest daughter of Alexander and 
Magdaline F., married Thomas Binford, had I, Mary, mar- 
ried French, and moved to Kentucky, and had Mary, Xannie, 
and Thomas ; II, William, married Hardenia Adelaide 
Speairs, his cousin, had Indiana and Adelaide, both died 
young; III, Hobson, married Maria Salmons, his cousin, had 
1, Xannie, married John E. Etcherson, Richmond; had 
John, Jr., married Lydia Bodker ; 2, Caledonia, or Callie, un- 
married; IV, John Binford, married and lived in 

v.estern part of Virginia. 

IV. XAXCY, fourth child and second daughter of Alex- 
ander and Magdaline F., married William Salmons^ had 1, 

Lucien, married Blunt, had issue; 2, Caroline, married 

Lieutenant Harry Keeling of the United States army of the 
Mexican War; had issue, some of whom live in Washington, 

D. C. ; 3, Xapoleon ; 4, Eugene, married Folks, had 

issue; 5, William, wife's name unknown, had issue; 6, 
Charles, soldier in United States army in Mexican War, in 
which he died; 7, Maria, married Hobson Binford, her 
cousin [See issue of Magdaline (Fowler) B. and Thomas 

Binford]; 8, Xannie, married Morris, moved south; 

9^ Roxana, married James Tanxer of Richmond, had 1, 

Eugenia, married Harkins; 2, Hattie, married Harry 

Harvey, had issue; 3, Famelian, married , no issue; 4, 

Xannie, married Christopher Fleming, had three sons and 
two daughters, names unrecalled, making nine Harvey chil- 
dren. 

Y. DEBORAH, fifth child and third daughter of Alex- 
ander and Magdaline (Smith) Fowler, married Leonard 
Speairs, brother to Mary Speairs, who married Thomas, eld- 
est brother to Deborah; Deborah and Leonard Speairs had. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMIL7. 289 

1^ Adolphus, married Watson, moved to northern Mis- 
sissippi, had issue, but nothing more is known of them; 2, 

Virgilia, married James, died young, no issue; she was 

gifted as a verse-writer; 3, Kardenia Adelaide, married Wil- 
liam BiNEORD, her cousin, had Adelaide and Indiana, both 

died young; 4, Moorman, married Austin, had nme 

children, lives in Richmond; 5, Arabella, married William B. 
Pettit, had, 1, Pembroke, married Wells, had six chil- 
dren, names not given; 2, liosa, married Nathaniel Harris, 
nephew of General D. B. Harris, the distinguished military 
engineer of the Confederate army; they reside at Frederick's 
Hall, Louisa County (See Mrs. Pettit's letter), and had 

issue; 3, Leonard, married Kate , had Margaret and 

Adelaide Bugbee; they reside at Big Stone Gap; 4, William 
Beverly, married Mrs. Fontaine and reside in Bremo Bluff, 
no issue; 5, Vera, unmarried, an accomplished young lady; 
6, Paul, unmarried, a talented young lawyer; 7, Adelaide, 
married William Bugbee, no issue. (For more information 
of the Pettit family, see lettt-rs following.) 

VI. WILLIAM SMITH, known as '^Big Billy Fowler,'' 
third son and sixth child of Alexander and Magdaline F., 
married Ann Fowler, his cousin, daughter of Sherwood and 
Mary (Wingo) Fowler. He was born September 2, 1782; 
died January 2, 1862. Ann was born in Buckingham County, 
Virginia, March 7, 1790; died July 14, 1867, at the home of 
her son, T. G. Fowler, Uniontcwn, Ala. William Smith and 
Ann Fowler had fifteen children, the following surviving 
infancy: 1, Frederick A., born October 15, 1807; 2, George 

Smith, born August 17, ; was drowned June 15, 1828, 

after saving young Jennings, a companion, from drowning in 
James River, opposite Cartersville, Va. ; he was a young man 
of brilliant promise; 3, Robert Alpheus, born December 31, 
1812; died May 5, 1845; 4, Mary Jane, born December 18, 
1814; died September 28, 1851; 5, Martha Ann, born Feb- 
ruary 21, 1817; died 1823; 6, William Smith, Jr., born July 

20, 1819; died October 1,, 1863; he married Moore, of 

St. Charles County, Missouri, had four children; 7, Virginia 

19 — Fowler. 



29a ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Ann, born March 3, 1821 ; unmarried, still living in Virginia; 
8, Thomas Alexander, born February 11, 1823; died May 15, 
1877; 9, Theophilus Gilliam, born May 25, 1828; married 
Mary Frances Terrell, 1859; had, 1, Kate, died in infancy; 

2, Annie Terrell, born 18G2, married E. H. Ware, had 
Thomas Fowler, born 1890; Fannie May, born May 9, 1894; 

3, May Terrell Fowler, unmarried, lives with her parents in 
Uniontown, Ala; 10, John Douglas Fowler, youngest son 
of William Smith and Ann Fowler, born July 18, 1830 ; was 
in Confederate Nav}^, Marino corps; was lieutenant in the 
engagement at Drury's Bluff, when the gunboat Galena at- 
tempted to reach Kichmond; was an officer of the marines 
on the Merrimac when the historic fight of Hampton Eoads 
was fought. He died in Kichmond in 18G3, from a wound 
received in the first battle of Manassas. 11, Harriet Xewell, 
born February 10, ]833; died June ]6, 1839; was the young- 
est child of William Smith and Ann Fowler. 

VII. MARY, fourth daughter of Alexander and Magda- 
line (Smith) Fowler, married May, moved west, noth- 
ing more is known of them. 

VIII. CAEOLINE, youngest of the children of Alexan- 
der and Magdaline (Smith) Fowler, married Daniel WoR- 
SHAM, moved to Alabama, nothing more is known of them; 
no issue. ^ 

LETTER OF MRS. ARABELLA (SPEAIRS) PETTIT, OF PALMYRA, 
FLUVANXA COUNTY, VIRGIXIA. 

[It is due Mrs. Pettit from me, the compiler of these 
records, that I beg her pardon for using this letter without 
her permission, and my reason for so doing is because it 
gives fuller information of her family and nothing she could 
possibly object to. Letters of details are like conversation, 
they make things so much plainer:] 

^Alexander and Magdaline (Smith) Fowler had a son Sawney, who 
was killed in the battle of New Orleans, January. 1815, so writers 
Mr. T. G. Fowler of Uniontown, Ala. (See his letter.) 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 291 

"•Cilen Burnie [the name of her home J, Dec. 28, 1900. — 
Mr. T. G. Fowler: Dear Cousin.— * * * Thoughts of 
my cousin Theoph. bring joy and gladness over the wide 
waste of years, and I see myself, now an old woman, a happy 
girl again. * * * Are you not glad that you have lived 
to see this age of improvement that calls forth my astonish- 
ment and admiration every day of my life? A short time 
before Christmas I went to Washington to see the Con- 
gressional Library, and my very soul feasted on the grandeur 
of the architecture there. It is worth a trip across the ocean 
to see. I had not been to Washington for several years when 
Bev. (Dr. W. B. Pettit) 'phoned me to go over that evening 
and go with him and a party of friends to see the library. 
In an hour's time I was in my carriage and on my way to 
Bremo Bluff, where I met the party and went on to Washing- 
ton. I never had a more delightful trip. There had be(5n so 
many improvements in every way since I was there that I 
wanted to see everything, so Bev. and I took a carriage and 
went over the city to all the places of interest. * * * 
This has been a very quiet Christmas with us. We usually 
have all — or nearly all — of the children with us on Christmas 
day, but we had only Pem and family this year. Leon is 
now living at Big Stone Gap. He has a lovely home there, 
and his wife, Kate, is one of the best and most charming of 
women. They have two dear little girls, Margaret and 
Adelaide Bugbee Pettit. Will Bugbee and Adelaide have no 
children, and they are delighted with their little namesake. 
I am in great distress now since my haby Adelaide will leave 
me soon to go live at the mine. She has lived at home with 
us nearly ever since she married, and it will be very hard for 
me to give her up. The mine now belongs to Mr. Reed, Mr. 
Craig, and Will Bugbee, so he will build and go to house- 
keeping there. The mine is a great resort for strangers, as 
well as the county folks. Mr. Bugbee is one of the nicest 
men in the world, and Ad could not have pleased me better 
if she had picked the world over. Pem has six children and 
two of his daughters are called beauties; they are all good- 



292 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

looking^ and good children. Virgilia is very mucli like her 
aunt Virgilia (the verse writer). Eosa has two grown 
daughters, who are called very pretty, also. There are three 
girls and three boys. Natalie quit school last session. Belle 
is still at the 'Woman's College/ in Eichmond. Nat, the 
oldest boy, will go next year to Poughkeepsie, to study book- 
keeping, banking, and stenography. Claude and Genevieve, 
Pern's only son and oldest daughter, went over to Frederick's 
Hall 3'esterday, to a party at Eosa's (Mrs. Harris). Claude 
is a fine business boy. Paul (her son) is still with us, and 
I do not see how his father could get on without him, for 
Will is getting old and Paul does most of the active prac'fice. 
Vera is unmarried and at home with us, and I trust that she 
and Paul will continue to remain with us. I know I have 
been blessed in having my children near me. Bev. has no 
children. I do not see him often, as he has a large practice. 
Now, about the letter you sent me. Tom Fowler had written 
me about the same lady, and I wrote him everything I know 
about my kin. Cousin Lucy Stone, a cousin of William, and 
who is art teacher at Hollins Institute, sent me a Christmas 
present of the Douglas coat-of-arms, and — she is quite a 
student of genealogy — she says there is no doubt of our 
relation to the Douglas house. She is a fine artist, and the 
coat-of-arms is beautifully painted and framed. It was an 
agreeable surprise to me. I .^hould like to know Mrs. Arthur, 
and am sorry I have no more information to give her. V\^ish- 
ing you a happy and prosperous New Year, your Co'usin 
BeUe." 

LETTER OF THOMAS MEREDITH FOWLER, OF LOUISA COUNTY, 

VIRGINIA. 

"Shelf ar, Louisa County, Va. — Mrs. J. J. Arthur : Dear 
Madam. — The Fowler genealogy as given me by my father was 
burned in March, 1899, when my residence, with all papers, 
books, and family portraits, was consumed in the flames. My 
father, William S. Fowler, son of Thomas Fov^der, eldest son 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 293 

of Alexander Fowler, had long cherished this family tradi- 
tion : An Englishman, Fowler, was a silk weaver in old 

England, and he at times trafficked in his silk along the 
borders of Scotland. One time, at Berwick-on-Tweed, he 
had among his patrons a young Scotch lady of the noble 
house of Douglas who bestowed on him her purchases and her 
smiles. Fowlei, the merchant, fell in love with her and 
finally summoned courage to tell her so, but he well knew 
that she was of noble blood, while he was simply of gentle 
birth. The young woman reciprocated his affections and 
accepted his proposal of marriage. But they both well knew 
that they must escape to England, for Fowler would be given 
the claymore in Scotland and she be sent to a nunnery, if 
they should be apprehended. They made good their elope- 
ment and were married in England. "She died soon after the 
birth of her first born, a son. Fowler, the silk weaver and 
merchant, married again and became the father of several 
more children, but his first-born, son of the Douglas wife, left 
England in his nineteenth year and settled in the tide-water 
portion in the colony of Virginia. My father stated that his 
grandfather, Alexander Fowler, was descended from that 
Fowler, but he did not know how near or far was the con- 
nection. 

"The lack of fuller knowledge on my father^s part w^as 
due to the fact that he lost both of his parents in early 
childhood. He said that his grandfather Alexander Fowler 
lived in Goochland County, and I think he said he was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary War. His wife. Miss Magdaline 
Smith, was of the Smiths of Meadow Bridges, on the Chicka- 
hominy River, Virginia. Through this Smith wife the de- 
scendants of Alexander Fowler are related to Mrs. Virginia 
Terhune, whose maiden name was Hawes, and who is the 
writer, Marion Harland. In this line we are also related to 
General Sterling Smith. 

*^'My father was a man of bright, quick intellect. He kiiew 
a good deal of medicine; was fond of and well versed in the 
science of government, politics, and history. He represented 



294 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Louisa County one session in the Virginia Legislature He 
was an ardent secessionist ; was aid to Governor Letcher dur- 
ing the war, wdth the ranlv of lieutenant-colonel of cavalry; 
was volunteer aid to General Pickttt in the battles of Seven 
Pines and Gaines' Mill. I had papers from General Pickett 
and Colonels Stithers and Timothy Smith that spoke highly 
of my father's gallant conduct in this last battle, but they 
were burned also. 

''Two sons of my father, John S. and Thomas M., went 
into the Confederate army as lieutenants, second and third, 
respectively, in Company D, Forty-fourth Virginia Eegiment, 
Colonel J. C. Scott's. x\t the reorganization of the army in 
1862 they joined the Cumberland Troop, Company G, Third 
Virginia Cavalry. Li the winter of 18(32-"63 a portion of 
Stuart's cavalry made a raid, circling the right of Burnside's 
army, and at Hartwell's church this portion of Confederate 
cavalry completely routed a portion of the enemy's cavalry. 
My brother, John S. Fowler, got the lead in this charge and 
dashed up to a Yankee w-ho had a pistol leveled at him. 
Fowler jerked the w^eapon out of his hand and made him a 
prisoner there and then, for which he received honorable 
mention on the muster rolls of his company. 

"The cavalry fight of Kelly's Ford was a very desperate 
one, lasting nearly all day of March 17, 1863, with 900 Con- 
federates against 3000 Federals. Tow^ard the close of the 
day a desperate charge \Yas made along our entire line, and it 
w^as in this charge that my brother John S. Fowler w^as 
killed, also his horse and my horse. 

"The campaign of 1863, in which Meade's army was driven 
back to Manassas, w^as one brilliant for the Third Cavalry. 
My name among others was read out on dress parade of the 
regiment, conspicuous for gallant conduct and action. In the 
fierce charge at Mitchell's Shop, on the line between Spo'tt- 
sylvania and Caroline counties, in 1864, tw^enty of us charged 
Sheridan's cavalr}^, breaking through the solid columns and 
scattering them in sudden confusion, and only three of the 
twenty escaped capture; I was one of the fortunate three. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 295 

In the cavalry fight at Trevilions ( ?) in June^ 18G4, my left 
shoulder was fractured by a shot from the enemy, and my 
arm had to be amputated. After that I was made captain of 
Home Eeserves until its men were conscripted into active 
service. At the close of the war I was so poor that 1 taught 
school to raise the necessary funds to enter the University of 
Virginia and take the course of law\ [See under head of 
T. M. Fowler in family list.] 

"Since the amputation of my arm I have never known 
comfort or peace on account of the constant twitching and 
jerking of my wounded shoulder. It is extremely irksome 
for me to wTite, because I am always very nervous. 

"My father said he had known several Fowlers with Doug- 
las as part of their Christian names. One John Douglas 
Fowler, a native of Goochland County, Virginia, was a near 
cousin to my father. He settled in Alabama and volunteered 
in a regiment from that State in the Civil War. At one time 
he was stationed at Pensacola, Fla., where he became ac- 
quainted with President Davis. This Alabama regiment was 
afterwards sent to Virginia and was in the first battle of 
Manassas, when John Douglas Fowler was seriously wounded. 
As he lay bleeding on the field he saw President Davis ride 
by, when, though faint from loss of blood. Fowler raised 
himself and cheered the President, who dismounted and gave 
the fallen soldier what aid he could. Afterwards President 
Davis gave him a commissi(jn of lieutenant in the navy, but 
Fowler died not long after, m Eichmond, of fever. He was 
])Liried near his father in the old family burying g'round in 
Goochland, Va. 

"My father stated that one of the first representatives in 
the United States Congress from Kentucky was a kinsman 
of his. I think his name was John Fowler. [See mention of 
Alexander and his son John Fowler, among the early Fowlers 
of Kentucky.] He also stated that the Hon. I. C. Fowler, 
who was at one time speaker of the House of Delegates of 
Virginia, and at present United States district court clerk 
at Abingdon, Va., and his brother, Elbert Fowler, were his 



296 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

kinsmen. You doubtless remember that Elbert Fowler was a 
prominent lawyer of Hinton^ W. Va., and that he was killed 
by Speed Thompson in a street duel in Hinton. 

"My family of Fowlers are generally of a high-strung 
temperament, impulsive, and quick to resent wrong or an 
encroachment of what they think their rights. They have 
literary taste and poetical gifts. Virgilia Speairs, daughter 
of Deborah (Fowler) Speairs, was considered quite a good 
poetess. Her verses often appeared in the newspapers of her 
day and were highly commended. She married a Mr. James, 
and died young. 

"Mrs. Arabella (Speairs) Pettit was the youngest sister 
of Virgilia. She resides at Palmyra, Fluvanna County, and 
her husband is a very able and distinguished lawyer. A few 
years ago he was an eminent aspirant for the supreme bench 
of the State, and had he been more of a politician and less 
of a lawyer, perhaps, he might have secured the place. Mrs. 
Pettit is a charming woman who delights to entertain in her 
home after the style of antebellum days in old Virginia. 
Hon. Pembroke Pettit is a member of the Virginia Legisla- 
ture, and has been for several terms. He is a fine stump 
speaker. All of the Pettit family are gifted and prominent. 

"The John Douglas Fowler before mentioned has a living 
brother in Uniontown, Ala., the Hon. T. G. Fowler, a 
talented man who once represented his county in the Alabama 
Legislature. His only sister. Miss Virginia Fowler, resides 
in her native home of Goochland. My father also stated that 
Senator Fowler, in Congress from Tennessee when Andy 
Johnson was impeached, was another kinsman of his. My 
recollection is that Senator Fowler voted against President 
Johnson^s conviction, and if so, I think he did right. I have 
heard my father speak of his relatives, ^Big Billy' and ^Little 
Billy' Fowler, and I believe 'Big Billy' was the father of the 
Hon. T. G. Fowler, of Uniontown, Ala. 

"Perhaps it would interest you to know my father's 
physical traits. He stood six feet in his stockings, was 
slender, and had fine light-colored hair, a high, broad fore- 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 297 



head, and a firm chin; and I may add, he had very courtly 
manners. [This describes many Fowlers I know.] 

"Beyond a doubt, Sherwood and Alexander Fowler were 
brothers. I think I remem1)ur hearing my father say that his 
grandfather, Alexander Fowler, died at the old Fowler home- 
stead in Goochland, Va. The place is now owned by a Mr. 
Richard James. My father settled in Louisa County about 
1839. I am a descendant of the distinguished English Farrar 
family in my maternal line; my mother, Martha Ann (Shel- 
ton) Fowler was a daughter of Sally Farrar, who married 
Major Thomas Shelton. The Farrars have been traced in an 
unbroken line of English and Norman descent for six hun- 
dred years. Nicholas Farrar and his sons, John and Nicho- 
las, Jr., were prominent officials in the London Colonization 
Company which colonized Virginia. The meetings of that 
company were often held in the home of Nicholas Farrar, Sr. 
1 had the Farrar Tree reaching down to me; it was printed 
on vellum, but it was also burned when my home was. 

"This genealogical information is respectfully submitted 
by yours truly, T. M. Fowler." 

LETTER OF HON. THEOFHILUS GILLIAM FOV^LER. 

"Uniontown, Ala., Nov. 26, 1900.— My Dear Madam and 
Cousin : It gives me pleasure to take up some of the broken 
links of my life and tell you of our kindred. My motlier, 
Ann Fowler, and your grandmother. Tolly' (Mary), were 
the daughters of Sherwood and Mary — Tolly' — (Wingo) 
Fowier, and they were born in Buckingham County, Virginia. 
Theirs was a large family, and uncle ^Little Billy' was the 
only one of mother's brothers who remained near his birth- 
place; one or more went to Tennessee and settled near Nash- 
ville, several sons of whom were gallant Confederate soldiers; 
some served as officers with General John H. Morgan. Uncle 
Tittle Billy' had one daughter who married a Mr. Lightner 
and moved to southwest Kentucky; they had several children. 
Some years ago a son of Aunt Polly (Fowler) Glenn, Mar- 



298 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

shall, corresponded with us iind sent ns his photo. He was 
at the time a member of the Texas Legislature. I presume 
he was your mother's brother. [He was a brilliant lawyer 
of Palestine, Texas, where he died.] 

"My father, William Smith Fowler, had a brother Jacob 
and a brother Sawney. Uncle Sawney never married, and 
he was one of the few killed in the battle of Xew Orleans. 
[He forgets to name the eldest brother, Thomas.] My brother, 
George Smith Fowler, was arowned in the James Eiver at 
Cartersville. He had just graduated at the University of 
Virginia and was on his return home wdien he stopped at 
Cartersville, within three miles of his home, and went in 
bathing, and was drowned in saving young Jennings. He 
sw^am with his friend nearly to shore and sank exhausted, 
but by that time Jennings was sufficiently recovered to save 
himself. George was a young man of great promise and had 
a bright future. 

"My father and his brothers were in the war of 1812-''14 ; 
my father was in the brigade of General John Cocke. I 
served through the war ]Jet^\'een the States, leaving my wife 
and a babe three months old, who was four years old when I 
came back. [Here Mr. Fowler repeats the same information 
relative to his brother, John Douglas Fowler, given in the 
letter of Mr. T. M. Fowler.] 

"I am quite familiar with the traditions of my ancestry, 
but I have lost the name of the English ancestor of this 
country whose mother was of the Stirling Castle Douglas 
family. You see that the name of Douglas was remembered 
in our branch of the family in the name of my brave brother 
who was so seriously wounderi at the first battle of Manassas, 
and which at last caused his death. 

"T left Virginia in 1859 (May) and settled in Marengo 
County, which adjoins this. Perry. In January, 1859, I 
married here in Uniontown. ]\Iy wife was a Miss Terrell, 
whose parents came to this State from La Grange, Ga. My 
daughter Annie married a prosperous merchant and business 
man, E. H. Ware, and they, with their two children, Thomas 



ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 299 

Fowler and May Terrell, live just across the street from us. 
May Terrell, my youngest daughter, is unmarried and is the 
light of our home. I am postmaster here and she makes a 
model assistant, making out all my reports most system- 
atically. [The picture of this young lady shows a very 
charming personality.] 

"I brought my mother to this State with me, and she is 
buried in the Terrell lot here. She died July 14, 1867. My 
sister Virginia (who is eighty years old) is boarding In the 
family of her cousin, Eugene Salmons, the son of father's 
sister Xanc}', in Goochland County, Virginia. 

'^General Thomas Fowler, who was many years a resident 
of Mobile, Ala., and his younger brother Frank, now of 
Cincinnati, 0., claimed relationship with me; I knew tliem 
quite well. Some time before his death. General Tom was 
hunting a missing link in the Fowler family which w^ould 
establish proof of our right to one of those fabulous fortunes 
awaiting us in the Bank of England. So far I have not 
laid hands on any part of it ; have you ? With much affection, 
your cousin, Tiieophilus Gilliam Fowler."" 

The foregoing is necessarily condensed, as is the letter of 
Mr. Thomas M. Fowler, only facts of importance to this 
record being given. 

DESCENDANTS OF SHERWOOD AND MARY ''pOLLY'" (w^INGO) 

FOWLER^ OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY^ VIRGINIA, AND LATER 
OF BEDFORD AND MARSHALL COUNTIES, TENNESSEE. 

SHEEWOOD FOWLER was born in Virginia, January 
1, 1759; married Mary Wingo in Amelia County, 1782; 
died in Marshall County, Tennessee, September 29, 1837. 
Mary W^ingo was born June 26, 1765; died September 29, 
1837. They had sons: Sherwood (called "Woody''), who 
married and had a family; John, married and had a family; 
Coleman, was a Methodist preacher; Abbott, married and 
had children; Jacob, was an old bachelor; William (called 
"Little Billy Fowler"). It seems that he was the only son 



300 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

who continiud to live in Virginia; he was pros^Derous, and 
lived in Goochland County. The daughters of Sherwood and 

Mary were Jane, married ; Ann, born March 7, 1790; 

married her cousin, William Smith Fowler (called "Big 
Billy''), who was a son of Sherwood's brother, Alexander F. 
[See descendants of William Smith F. and Ann (Fowler).] 
Mary Daniel, born in Buckingham County, A'irginia, married 
Nathan Glenn, of Cumberland County, and had Mary, Ann, 
Martha Susan, Thomas, and Marshall. [See Glenn family.] 

The foregoing facts are given by my mother, Martha 
Susan (Glenn) Fowler, wife of Judge A. "Jack" Fowler, of 
Texas, with some assisting data from Hon. T. G. Fowler, of 
Uniontown, Ala., her cousin. She left her native State of 
Virginia in the year 1833, "when the stars fell,'"' and her 
memory is of course very vague and dim relative to these 
facts, for they are only childish impressions. I have tried 
my best to get more information from persons supposed to 
be interested, but up to the present I have failed utterly. 
She remembers more clearly her grandparents who visited 
her parents when they lived in Tennessee. I presume fhat 
the old couple never returned to Virginia but remained with 
their sons in Tennessee. Her parents lived at the time of 
this visit, in Marshall County, Tennessee, and it was between 
1833 and 1840 (prior to 1837, Mary's death). She remem- 
bers, also, that her grandfather was an old "revolutioner," 
for she has seen him taking part in patriotic celebrations 
among the honored veterans. 

Yoakum, the Texas historian, who was an old friend of 
my father, remembered Sherwood Fowler far better than 
my mother does, as he knew the "old revolutioner" in man- 
hood, and he often laughed over some of Sherwood's verses 
taking off the shams and follies of society in his da}-, for 
Sherwood delighted to "drop into rhyme." 

When I wished to join the Daughters of the American 
Revolution on my great-grandfather Sherwood Fowler's mili- 
tary record, X found that I must give proof of such service — 
and I had none. I thought of the pension office and wrote 



ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 301 

for proof, if any were to be had in that department. I re- 
ceived the following letter of facts: "Bnrean of Pensions, 
Washington, D. C, May 28, 1897. — Sherwood Fowler made 
application for pension on December 5, 1832, at which time 
he was residing in Bedford County, Tennessee, and he was 
then seventy-three years of age. His pension was allowed 
for six months- actual service as a private, corporal, and 
sergeant in the Virginia troops, Eevolutionary War; a part 
of the time he served under Captain Walker and Colonel 
Willis. He enlisted in Powhatan County, Virginia. H. Clay 
Evans, Commissioner.^^ Additional information was given 
that "the last payment of pension was made in 1839, when 
Sherwood Fowler lived in Marshall County, Tennessee." 
Thus we know that he was born in 1759; married in 
1782, when twenty-three years old, and at the close of the 
war ; claimed a pension when he was seventy-three ; died when 
he was eighty, in the State of Tennessee. Later Mr. Fowler 
of Alabama gave me exact data, which are given above. 

Mr. Chalkley of Richmond, Va., sent record of the mar- 
riages of two Fowlers in Amelia Count}^, viz. : "Sherwood 
Fowler and Mary Wingo, 1782; Edmund Fowler and Sarah 
Clements, 1784."^ I regret not having exact wedding day of 
Sherwood and Mary Wingo. I do not know whether Edmund 
was akin to the former, but circumstances lead me to believe 
that he was. 

My mother is the only surviving child of Sherwood^s 
daughter Mary ("Polly"), and she has never returned to her 
native State even on a visit. She is seventy-seven, and re- 
tains her physical and mental faculties remarkably. 

DESCENDANTS OF MARY DANIEL (fOWLER) AND NATHAN 

GLENN^ OF CUMBERLAND AND PRINCE EDWARD COUNTIES, 

VIRGINIA, AND LATER OF lONI, ANDERSON 

COUNTY, TEXAS. 

Nathan Glenn was a son of James Glenn of Cumberland 
County, Virginia, who held live grants of land in Botetourt 



3u2 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

and New Kent counties. Mr. Thomas Allen Glenn of Ard- 
more^ Pa., who is a genealogist, says that the Glenns of 
Pennsylvania and Virginia were of the Scotch-Irish emigrants 
from Ulster County, Ireland. Fiske, historian, says, in "Old 
Virginia and Her Neighbors,'' that these emigrants were edu- 
cated artisans and tradespeople who came to America for con- 
science's sake, as did the Priritans and Huguenots, and who 
proved so important in the better civilization of this country, 
especially in the godless and effete aristocracy of cavalier 
Virginia. If any one thinks this opinion of A^irginia aristoc- 
racy too severe, let him read Bishop Meade's "Old Churches 
and Families of Virginia." 

Nathan Glenn was an educated old school Presbyterian, 
but he accommodated himself to his wife's church, either 
because he liked it as well, or that his own did not follow 
him fast enough in his western settlements. His wife was a 
refined old Virginian, a model housekeeper, and a capable 
mistress of her husband's many slaves. Their A^irginia home 
was on the Appomattox Kiver, in Prince EdAvard County, 
near Farmville, and it was named "Obsloe" by their friend 
and neighbor, the erratic "John Kandolph of Eoanoke;" but 
Roanoke was not that statesman's nearest plantation to 
Obsloe. Grandfather was such an ardent admirer of Ran- 
dolph that he named his Texas dogs and horses for those of 
his Virginia favorite. Nathan Glenn served in the war of 
1812-'14, and was stationed at Norfolk, Va. He was always 
called Captain Glenn by his Texas neighbors, but my mother 
does not know if he held that position in the war. 

I know it is a threadbare story, but it is nevertheless true 
in this instance. Captain Glenn went security for a friend, 
who, as usual, failed. Obsloe was seized by the unfortunate 
man's creditors, also the live stock and many of the slaves. 
Mr. Glenn started out to begin life anew in Tennessee, re- 
taining only a few servants. He first went to Lincoln County, 
then to Marshall County, Mississippi, then back to Tennessee, 
to Marshall Countv, but each in turn failed to fill the heart 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 303 

of the homesick man, and he moved on to the new El Dorado 
of Texas, the hind of spring and summer. 

He was a hot-lieaded Democrat, and mother remembers 
many distinguished men who lingered under his hosjDitable 
roof, among them Governor Polk of Tennessee. His eldest 
daughter, Mary (Mrs. Gresham), was equally as ardent a 
Whig, and her father invited both to his table, for he was 
j^roud of his daughters brilliant conversational powers. 
Tradition says that even in that far-away time she dared to 
argue Scripture with the parson or talk politics with the 
leaders, even the Governor ! Ann was his handsome daughter. 
He reached the Kepublic of Texas in 1840 and settled at 
old Fort Houston, which was then a blockhouse and a stock- 
ade for protection from the Indians, many of whom still lived 
in the forest fastnesses of East Texas. He brought with 
him his two married daughters, Mesdames Gresham and 
McClure, and their families, together with many negroes. It 
was at this fort in the Texas wilds where my father and 
mother were married in 1841. (See old-time Texas wedding, 
in "Descendants of A. J. Fowler.") 

He subsequently bought a plantation on loni Creek, about 
fifteen miles from Fort Houston, at the old loni Indian vil- 
lage, in a league of land owned by my father, who came in 
1837. In a spirit of grim humor the new home was chris- 
tened "Hard Bargain." Mr. Gresham and family settled 
near, and Mr. McClure and family settled in the new-born 
town of Palestine, where he became one of the leading lawyers 
of the State. 

Despite its name, my grandfather's home was my child- 
hood's Eden, with its locust-shaded walks, vine-screened 
porches and windows, its rows of bee-hives, its orchards, and 
the plum "nursery," where I could reach up in the tangle- 
wood and pluck the fruit for myself. Then, too, their table 
was always laden with the most delicious preserves, honey, 
and all other good things, for my grandmother prided herself 
on her Virginian housewifery skill. I often forgot to eat 
in open-eyed consternation at grandfather's alarming appe- 



304 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

tite. Elic, a black manservant, always stood behind "''ole 
Massa's'" chair and devoted himself to the hearty old gentle- 
man's wants. Whenever 1 questioned my mother on the 
reason grandpa ate so much, she always said it was because 
]ie was "an old Virginia gentleman/' from wdiicli I concluded 
that he was specially favored by somebody. He w^as large 
and fair, robust, loud, and bustling. I was afraid of him 
because he emphasized his orders and conversation with many 
oaths, another phase of the old Southern type, which trait 
my own father abhorred. He and his quiet, gentle old wife 
died on this Texas plantation, he about 1861 and she in the 
early 70's, beloved and lamented by their former slaves, many 
of wdiom had continued to live with "ole Mass and ole Miss,'' 
and by their neighbors. They lie buried in the Glenn and 
Gresham burying-ground in front of the gate of the Gresli^m 
homestead. May God bless their memory to their few re- 
maining descendants ! They sleep with their Glenn, Gresham, 
and Wright kindred. Their children w^ere : 

I. MARY, married GEORGE GRESHAM, of a fine old 
Georgia family. (See Greshams.) 

II. AXX, married ALEXANDER EWIXG M'CLURE, 
of a prominent North Carolina and Tennessee family of 
Irish ancestry. (See MeClures, further.) 

III. MARTHA SUSAN, married ANDREW JACKSON 
FOWLER, of a good Kentucky family of English ancestry. 
(See "Descendants of A. J. Fowler of Texas.") 

IV. MARSH, married MOLLIE DUPUY, daughter of 
an Anderson County (Texas) planter; they lived very de- 
voted to each other; were married at mature age, both of 
them; they had no issue. He was educated in Palestine 
Academy and at McKenzie CoHege, Clarksville, Texas. He 
had a fine brain, but he never attained the brilliant future 
predicted for him by his admiring friends. He was captain 
of Company A, Second Texas Cavalry, Pyron's Regiment, in 
the C. S. A. He died in Palestine, Texas, June 26, 1889; his 
widow still survives him. He w^as for many years a promi- 
nent lawyer of that town, and one term he represented his 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 305 

county in the Texas Legislature. Like his father^ he was 
large and fair, possessing an inexhaustible fund of sparkling 
wit and kindly humor. Peace to his memory ! He was his 
own worst enemy, for we all loved him. 

y. THOMAS GLENN was the eldest son; he married 
Laura Smith, and had Ida and another daughter; they are 
all dead. Thomas died of pneumonia in Little Eock, Ark., 
while he was a soldier of the Confederacy. His was a genial, 
sunny nature, and his early death was long and sorely 
mourned by his parents and kindred. His home, given him 
by his father, is in the old loni neighborhood, where not a 
single Glenn descendant lives to-day (1901). 

VI. VIRGINIA, died in childhood and was buried at 
old Fort Houston. 

VIL WILLIAM, died in childhood and buried at the fort 
also, 1840 ('41?). 

My mother, Mrs. A. J. Fowler, is the only surviving child 
of Mary Daniel (Fowler) and Nathan Glenn, and my father 
was the last of the sons of Godfrey Fowler, Jr., and Clara 
(Wright). 

THE GRESHAM FAMILY. 

L MARY GLENN married GEORGE GRESHAM, of 

Georgia, before 1840; they had children, — sons, — Otey, 
Richard, James, Thomas Glenn, George Marshall. Otey died 
during the Civil War, while a soldier of the Confedeiracy, at 
Clarksville, Tenn. ; "Dick'' was killed in battle in Louisiana, 
at or near Thibideaux; James was a brave captain of a Texas 
company and lived to return to his heart-broken parents; 
he married Fanny Shipp, of Van Alstyne, Grayson County, 
Texas, and had sons, George Harris, Pink, and Robert; they 
live in Temple, Texas, and are the editors and owners of the 
Temple Times; they are married and have families, except 
George Harris Gresham, who is an old bachelor. 

Thomas Glenn Gresham (always called "Jog"), married 
■ Wagoner and had several sons ; he and his wife are dead. 

20 — Fowler. 



300 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

George Marshall Gresham, the youngest son and child of 
Mary (Glenn) and George Gresham, is married and lives in 
Temple also, and has children, the eldest, George Harris. 
G. M. Gresham is a druggist there. Virginia Gresham, the 
eldest daughter, married Hinchman Wright of Anderson 
County, Texas, and had sons, Glenn and Charley Dick, and 
daughters Fanny G., Virgie Lee, Julia, and Maggie, all of 
whom are married. She died 23rior to 1890. Mary ("Mol- 
lie'^) Gresham, second daughter, married Benj. Conway, had 
issue, and died; George Aliord Conway was reared by his 
grandmother and her two sons, Jog and George Marshall 
Gresham, and died when about grown, being the last of his 
family. 

THE m'CLURE family. 

II. ANIS^ GLENX married ALEXAXDEE EWIXG Mc- 
CLURE of Tennessee, and had issue: 1, Eobert, married 
Puss Woodward (nee Skelton), and had Annie, married Joe 
Summers, had Kathleen, and died; 2, Dr. Marsh McClure, 
married Annella Boyd Armstrong, now dead; he is a popular 
physician of Alto, Cherokee County; 3, Quarles, unmarried; 

5, Phila, married Hurter, lives in Mineola, Texas. Mr. 

R. McClure married a second time. Miss Elizabeth Ivirbey, 
and has a son Kirbey; they reside in Rusk, Cherokee County, 
where he is an active lawyer. 11. "Mollie,'' Mary Ellen 
MeClure, married Hamlett, and lives in Mont Alba, Ander- 
son County, Texas; she has Annie Laurie. III. Georgia 
Virginia McClure married Robert Broyles and had Daniel, 
Marsh, Xellie, and others; they live in San Saba County, 
Texas, Cherokee postolhce. She was a very gifted and popu- 
lar young woman, reared in Palestine, Texas, the home of 
her parents. IV. William McClure married and died, leav- 
ing one daughter, Glenn McClure. V. Alexander Purdoni 
McClure married Minnie Lawrence and had two daughters; 
he died in 1889, and is buried in his father^s family lot in 
the old Palestine cemetery. VI. Thomas McClure married 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 3u7 



and lives in Texas. VII. George Ewing, unmarried and 
lives in Palestine. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gresham lived on their farm on loni Creek. 
Nearly all the family was scattered by marriage and death 
as far back as I am able to remember. Mrs. Gresham, ''Aunt 
Mary/^ and her two youngest sons, Jog and George, together 
with the little orphan grandchild, George Alford Conway, 
made up the household as [ knew it best. She was a very 
intelligent and refined lady, and had great strength of 
character. "Cousin Jennie'' (Mrs. Wright) and her good 
husband, with their little baud of children, lived on a farm 
not very far from the Gresham homestead, and it was the 
delight of my girlhood to make my vacation rounds among 
my country cousins, in company of Annie Glenn, now Mrs. 
AY. H. Hewett of Palestine, who was a very distant relative, 
but who has ever been very near to the family in times of 
mirth and sorrow. Ah, the simple pleasures of bouyant 
youth ! How they brighten in flight. For twenty years, ever 
since I have been a married woman, I have not revisited those 
happy scenes of my girlhood. 

Mr. and Mrs. McClure lived at the old homestead ir the 
town of Palestine, and my Aunt Ann died before I could 
remember her. She was known as the handsome Glenn 
daughter, and she was greatly beloved by the kindred. My 
cousin Mollie, a handsome, musical girl, was the mistress of 
the home as I remember it. Cousin Georgia, the younger 
daughter, was a continual delight to my admiring heart, for 
I thought her so "smart"" and vivacious. Alex., the third 
son, was my favorite of all my cousins because he made more 
of the unattractive little girl than the rest of them. Mr. 
McClure was a prosperous, public-spirited man, a lawyer and 
office-holder. There were many merry reunions of Gresham, 
McClure, and Fowler young folks in the "good old days 
before the war,'" when fiddling and dancing, with singing, 
horseback riding, and all other simple pleasures of happy, 
unpretentious family life, filled the long days and nights of 
happy-do-nothing. I remember some of it after "Uncle 



3<)8 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

Tom" Glenn, Otey, and Dick Gresham had marched away to 
war with their brother James, Robert McClure, brother 
Nathan Fowler, and "Uncle Marsh'' Glenn, '^to live or die 
for Dixie,'' and tliree of them never came hach! 

DESCEXDAXTS OF THOMAS FOWLER OF VIRGIXIA. 

These data are given by Hon. Isaac Chapman Fowler of 
Abingdon, A"a. : 

Thomas Fowler of Virginia was born about 1727; he moved 
from Virginia to South Carolina, and from there he removed 
to Tennessee. He died about October, 1826, aged ninety- 
nine years. He had a son. Dr. Thomas Fowler of Parrotts- 
ville, Tenn., who married Mary Baldridge, who survived him 
many years. His gravestone in his native to^vn bears this 
inscription : "In memory of Dr. Thomas Fowler, Born April 
11, 1770; Died October 28, 1840. For near 50 years he was 
a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church." Of 
his wife, Mary (Baldridge) Fowler: "In memory of Mary 
Fowler, who died JSTovember 10, 1854, aged 54 years, 10 
months, and 21 days. A member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church 50 odd years and died in great peace, and her works 
do follow her. Farewell, my dear Mother, we will meet 
again in the Resurrection Morn." 

The eldest son of this Christian couple was another Dr. 
Thomas Fowler, who was born also at Parrottsville, Tenn., 
in July, 1798; educated at Washington College, Tennessee, 
studied medicine under Dr. Elkanah Dulaney, at Blountville, 
Tenn., and attended medical lectures at Transylvania Univer- 
sity (Kentucky) in 1824; he then went to Tazewell Court- 
House, Va., where he married in 1826 Priscilla Chapman of 
Ripplemead, Giles County, A^irginia. In September, 1835, 
they moved to the mouth of Indian [omitted — Creek? or 
River?), Monroe County, A^irginia, where they resided until 
their respective deaths, the husband in 1858 and the wife 
in 1876. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 



309 



Dr. Thomas Fowler the First, son of Thomas Fowler the 
First, had children : 

1. Dr. Thomas Fowler, born July, 1798; married Priscilla 
Chapman, 1826; died April, 1858, in Monroe County, 
Virginia. 

2. John F. Fowler, born 1800. 

3. Mary Ann, born 18—; married William Alexander. 

4. Levi, born 18—; died m Texas, about 1880 (in Johnson 
County). 

5. Samuel, born ; married and moved to Indiana. 

6. Abijah, born 1808; died in Monroe County, Tennessee. 
Author, in collaboration with his brother Josiah, of Fowler^'s 
Arithmetic, the old "Federal Calculator,"- which was much 
used in the early schools of Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia. ■ 
From Johnston and Brown's Life of Alexander H. Stephens 
is quoted : "He could read vvell and spell almost every word 
in Webster's Spelling-book. He could write, and had 
ciphered as far as the Single Rule of Three in the old federal 
Calculator.'" "Little Aleclr' was then twelve years old 
(1826). Again, on page 46, he tells in his diary that he 
studied arithmetic with Mr. Welch of Locust Grove Academy : 
"I read and exercised daily m writing, but arithmetic was 
the main study. But in 1827 I commenced at the beginning 
of the old Federal Calculator, reviewed all the rules, and 
went regularly through the book, writing out a careful tran- 
script of every problem or sum. At the end of the term in 
June I was through, and master of the book." I have seen a 
time-worn, thumbed, and dingy old copy of that old book, 
which is now venerated by Mrs. Emma (Burnham) Quebe- 
deaux of iVustin, Texas, who is a granddaughter of Josiah 
Fowler, the younger author of the Federal Calculator. He^' 
copy is a revision of the other editions, and bears date of 
1834, if I mistake not. 

7. (To continue the number and names of the Fowler 

-Abijah and Josiah Fowler of Tennessee must have reeopyrighted 
and revised the old Federal Calculator, as the dates show that they 
were too young to have been the original authors. 



310 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

children) : Dollie, born 1810 : married Malo}% and died 

in Arkansas. 

8. Josiah, born July 16, 1811; died July 4, 1888, in 
Salado, Bell County, Texas. In 1853 Josiali Fowler moved 
from Cocke County, Tennessee, to Burnet County, Texas, 
near Marble Falls, on the Colorado River, where he built 
himself a marble residence (of the native marble, which is 
destined to outlast many generations, and is still in posses- 
sion of the Fowler family). Sarah Jane Fowler, daughter 
of Josiah, married Jesse Burnham, a son of an early and 
brave pioneer of Texas, of whom much has been written in 
Texas. 

9. Francis F., born September 26, 1813; died October 1, 
1840, Greenville, Tenn. 

Going back a little on this Fowler line, it is learned that 
the Thomas Fowler who went to South Carolina from Vir- 
ginia had a brother Joseph or Josiah, for he was called "old 
Joe,^' and he died in Cocke County, Tennessee, but had lived 
in South Carolina, likely in Greenville District, with two 
other brothers named Aaron and Eichard. "I have seen the 
graves of Josiah and Levi Fovrler, in Laurens District, South 
Carolina, and they were sons of the before mentioned x^aron 
or Richard; some of them lived in Spartanburg District. 
Many of them light complexioned, with sandy hair, and they 
would work all day and nearly all night. Joe and Levi were 
w^orthy." So says an authority quoted. Another note says 
that "Dr. Francis F. Fowler, ninth child of Dr. Thomas 
Fowler and Mary (Baldridge) was born September 26, 1813 ; 
married Jane Malon}', December 28, 1837, in Greenville, 
Tenn. He died October 15, 1869. He attended the school 
of medicine of Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky." 
Signed W. F. Fowler, Greenville, Tenn., March, 1893. 

Dr. Thomas Fowler and Priscilla (Chapman) had children 
as follows : 

1. Albert Chapman, born December 6, 1827; died October 
29, 1832. 



ANNAL8 OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 311 

2. Ann Eliza, born Xovember 22, 1829; died November 1, 
1830. 

3. Isaac Chapman, born September 2, 1831 ; married 
Kizzie McDonald Chapman, December 6, 1854. 

4. Thomas Baldridge, bor.n January 5, 1834; died July 26, 
1867, Johnson County, Texas. 

"5. Mary Ann, born September 1, 1836; married J. D. 
Johnston, November 13, 1855. 

6. Amanda Louisa, born January 31, 1839; married R. A. 
Pearis, January 1, 1856. 

7. Allen, born July 18, 1841; lives ^in Salt Lake City 
(1898). 

8. Elbert, born November 24, 1843; died February 23, 
1885 ; was murdered. 

Isaac Chapman Fowler and Kiziah McDonald (Chapman) 
had children: 

1. Nannie Belle, born March 25, 1860; married Stuart F. 
Lindsey, and has children. Dawn F. and McDonald. 

2. Mary Louise, born February 29, 1868; married David 
A. Preston; they have children: Louise, born September 2., 
1893, and Icelia May, born . 

3. Priscilla Chapman, born January 8, 1871 ; married 
P. Agee Goodwyn; they have one child, Allen A., born 
October — , 1898. 

Hon. I. C. Fowler of Abingdon, Va., in courteous reply 
to my anxious inquiries : "I was born in Tazewell, Va., 
1831; educated partly in Parrottsville, Tenn., and at Emory 
and Henry College, Virginia. My public acts as a citizen 
are: I was mayor of Bristol, Va., 1869-1875; then became 
a member of the Virginia House of Delegates; was made 
Speaker of the House 1881-1882; have been clerk of the 
United States Circuit and District Courts at Abingdon for 
sixteen years. I am ranked as a man of whom naught that is 
evil can be said, except in politics, and, in the latter, no man 
can say I ever did a dishonorable act; they can only say 
occasionally that my opinions are wrong. 'My wife is a very 
much revered and respected -Aoman. In the aristocratic line 



312 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

and idea (do not speak it loud) she is a lineal descendant of 
King Eobert Bruce of Scotland. But what is this worth 
compared to being a natural queen and a wife of one of the 
royal line of the House of Fowler ? Some time since I started 
my autobiography, and, if I ever get time to finish it, I 
shall send you and my cousin Emma [Mrs. Emma (Burn- 
ham) Quebedeaux, elsewhere mentioned] complimentary 
copies.^' 



CHAPTEE XVI. 

"Oh be swift to love while ]t is to-day, for to-morrow we pass 
away! Be ever ready with the warm hand-clasp and the welcoming 
smile; be responsive, be kind; in a word, he loving." 



EARLY KENTUCKY FOWLERS FROM VIRGINIA. 

The following is copied from the introduction to the 
"Journal of Jacob Fowler;'' narrating an adventure from 
Arkansas through the Indian Territory, Oklahoma, Kansas, 
Colorado, and New Mexico, to the source of Rio Grande del 
Norte, 1821-'22. Edited, with notes, by Elliot Coues, and 
published by Francis P. Harper, New York, 1898. 

Mr. R. T. Durett, in the introduction, says: "The author 
of this Journal is Major Jacob Fowler. * * * j obtained 
the manuscript some years ago from Mrs. Ida Symmes 
Coates, daughter of the late ximericus Symmes, now residing 
at her country seat near Louisville. Mrs. Coates is a great- 
granddaughter, on the maternal side, of Jacob Fowler. The 
MS. descended to her in a direct line from her mother, 
Frances Scott, who was a granddaughter of Jacob Fowler, 
and who had obtained it in the same way from her mother, 
Abigail Fowler, the only daughter of Jacob Fowler. * * * 
- — Pioneers by the name of Fowler were early in Kentucky, and 
some of them were owners oi large tracts of land. In 1783 
Alexander Fowler entered 10,000 acres on the Little Ken- 
tucky River; and in 1784 John Fowler, who was the first 
member of Congress from Ashland District, located 1536 
acres on Brush Creek and on the dividing ridge between 
Pitman^s Creek and Robertson's Run. I do not know whether 
Jacob Fowler was of this family of Fowlers, but he was 
certainly akin to them in so far as the love and ownership 
of lands was concerned. Besides other possessions, he owned 
2000 acres of the site of the present city of Covington, Ken- 
ton County, Kentucky. He was one of the pioneers of what 



314 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

afterward became Kenton County, before the city of Cov- 
ington was incorporated. A census of the male inhabitants 
of this locality shows him to have been residing here in 1810, 
with his sons Edward and Benjamin. Had he been permitted 
to retain these Covington lands, he might have become a 
multi-millionaire. His kind heart, however, led him to be- 
come the indorser of those who made a clean sweep of his 
fine estate. A large brick dwelling, handsomely furnished, 
in the midst of ample grounds, planted with trees and shrub- 
bery, flow^ers and blue-grass, went with his lands to pay the 
debts of others. Had he written his name as indorser as 
illegibly as he wrote the names of others in his Journal, there 
might have been some ground for what lawyers call the plea 
of non est factum, to clear him of liability. But such was 
not the case, and his security for others swept away his large 
icstate. 

"Major Fowler married the widow^ Esther Saunders, nee 
•to Kentucky in early life, a line specimen of physical man- 
■hood, fully equipped for the office and duties of surveyor. 
His surveying instruments were the best of their day, and 
■elicited no little envy from those who used the common 
■Jacob's staff, compass, and chain of the times. He had the 
reputation of being an accomplished surveyor, and did much 
in his line for the United States government. His survey- 
ing extended to the great plains and mountains of the far 
West, before civilization had reached these distant wilds. He 
w^as there when wild animals and wilder savages were the 
only tenants of the wilderness. 

'^Major Fowler married the widow Esther Saunder, nee 
de Vie, of New|3ort, Ky. She was of French descent, and a 
lady of great beauty and accomplishments. She made his 
home one of happiness and hospitality. She sometimes ac- 
companied him on his surveying expeditions, and bore 
domestic charms to the tent in which they lived as she did 
to the palatial home. She was a woman of fine business 
capacity, who, when her husband was not at home, at- 
tended to his affairs, and especially to his farm in the 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 315 

suburbs of Covington. Here fine stock and abundant 
crops owed much to her constant care and supervision. 
The grapes that grew on the place were made into 
wine and the apples into cider, in accordance with the 
knowledge she had inherited from her French ancestors. Her 
great-grandchildren of to-day tell of her camp life with her 
husband. The tent floor was carpeted; a comfortable bed 
invited to repose after the toil of the day; dainty china, 
bright cut-glass, and shining silverware, handsome enough 
to be preserved as family heirlooms by their descendants, 
were used on the camp table. It was something of Parisian 
life in the dreary wilderness. 

"Major Fowler died in Covington in 1850. His life as a 
surveyor and explorer in the far West subjected him to many 
hardships, but a constitution naturally vigorous was preserved 
with care until he reached his eighty-sixth year. He has 
numerous descendants in Kentucky, Ohio, and other States, 
some of whom occupy high social positions. Mrs. Coates, to 
whom I am indebted for this manuscript Journal, is, in her 
paternal line, a granddaughter of Captain John Cleve 
Symmes, author of the '^Theory of Concentric Spheres,^ 12mo., 
Cincinnati, 1826, and great-grandniece of Hon. John Cleve 
Symmes, a member of Congress from New Jersey, who pur- 
chased of the United States government that vast body of 
land in the State of Ohio, lying on the north bank of the 
Ohio Kiver between the two Miamis. * * * " 

I have copied quite fully the foregoing introduction be- 
cause it is interesting, and it will enable one to the more 
clearly remember the pioneer Fowlers of Kentucky, dis- 
tinguishing among those from New York, Virginia, and 
North Carolina. Alexander and John Fowler, who are men- 
tioned as taking up large tracts of land there about the close 
of the Revolutionary War, are beyond a doubt members of 
the Alexander line of Virginia Fowlers, — my maternal line, 
— as is proved by other evidence in the family mentioned. 

The Rev. Littleton Fowler, Methodist missionary to the 
Republic of Texas, married Miss Missouri Lockwood, who 



316 ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 

was a step-daughter to Captain John Cleve Symmes of New- 
port, Ky., and consequently a step-sister to the late Americus 
Symmes, the father of Mrs. Coates of near Louisville. Quite 
a degree of affection seemed to exist between Mrs. Fowler and 
her step-brother, judging by the many cordial letters which 
passed between them, many of which I have read. ( See fuller 
mention in the Littleton Fowler chapter.) 

The Journal of Jacob Fowler mentions Robert Fowler, a 
brother to the major. Jacob is also a distinguishing name in 
the Alexander Fowler line. 

ANOTHER BRANCH OF KENTUCKY FOWLERS. 

In 1900 Mrs. Charles E. Davis of Nacogdoches, Texas, 
furnished the following data in the hope that I might be 
able to help her to find her family niche, wdiich I have vainly 
endeavored to do, but I insert her data here in the wish to 
have other members hunt up the connecting link. 

Mrs. Davis writes: "My grandfather, William Fowler, 
went to Kentucky during its early settlement. I presume 
that he Avas born in Virginia. He was born January 30, 1807. 
He married Xancy Carrawa}', whose birth was January 9, 
1811; they had eight children: James C, Wesley T. (my 
father), Martha E., William B., Sarah D., David E., Mary 
L. Grandfather was a large slave-owner in Kentucky. At 
the time of my grandparents^ death, also my parents, they 
lived in Collin County, where they helped to start the town 
of McKinney. My father and mother were both reared in 
Trigg County, Kentucky. They came to Texas in 1868. 

"Wesley T. Fowler, born August 14, 1833; married Eliza- 
beth McWaters, June 18, 1859; they had seven children, viz: 
William Y., born June "^0, 1860; Jabe B., born March 1, 
1863; Bradford A., born August 31, 1865; Isaac D., born 
February 39, 1868; David D., born January 7, 1871; Nannie 
E. (myself), born October 3, 1873 ; Sinthy Belle, born August 
3, 1876, died 1879. I think that my mother died about 1879 
and father in 1882. I can find out, if you wish. Father was 




MISS LAUllA rOWLER, 
Athens, Texas. 



CLINE WILSON, 
Russellville, Texas. 



ANNALS OF THE FOWLER FAMILY. 317 



an architect and owned a large cattle ranch. Three of my 
brothers are doctors, one a lawyer, — Dudley Fowler, who 
completed his law studies in Austin eight years ago [in State 
University?]. I married Chas. E. Davis, April 18, 1893, and 
our one child, a son, is named Fowler Edward Davis." 

Mr. Davis was editor of the Nacogdoches Sentinel at the 
time Mrs. Davis wrote. 

I met Dr. and Mrs. B. A. Fowler of Brownwood, Texas, 
at the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua, in the 'summer of 1900. 
They both impressed me as very pleasant and cordial. Dr. 
Fowler was then a helpless invalid in a wheeled chair, having 
never recovered from an injury sustained while traveling on a 
railroad. He is large and fair, over six feet tall, as are so 
many of the name. His wife was Miss Mabel Looney, and 
is a very estimable woman. 

WHICH ARE YOU? 

There are two kinds of people on earth to-day, 

Just two kinds of people, no more I say; 

Xot the sinner and saint, for 'tis well understood 

That the good are half bad and the bad are half good. 

Xot the rich and the poor, for to count a man's wealth 
One must first know the state of his conscience and health. 
Xot the humble and proud, for in life's little span 
Who puts on vain airs is not counted a man. 

Xot the happy and sad, for the swift-flying years 
Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears. 
Xo; the two kinds of people that I mean. 
Are the people who lift and the people who lean. 

Wherever you go you will find the world's masses 
Are always divided in just these two classes; 
And oddly enough, you will find, too, 1 wean. 
There's only one lifter to ticenty icho lean. 

In which class are you? Are you easing the load 
Of overtaxed lifters who toil up the road? 
Or are you a leaner, who lets others bear 
Your portion of labor, worry, and care? 

— [Ella Wheeler Wilcow. 



-}y\ 



^^ APPENDIX. 



FOWLER GEXEALOGIES. 



The following list was most kindly given me by Mr. Charles Evan 
Fowler, Bridge Engineer, Youngstown, Ohio. He says: '"The books 
on the Fowler family, of which I am aware, are as follows: 'The 
Fowler Familv. Descendants of Philip and Mary Fowler of Ips^s-ich, 
-G^.,' by M. A. Stickney: 247 pages; record from 1.590-1882, with 
portraits and indexes. * (Also the coat-of-arms elsewhere referred 
to, — the one granted to Eiehard Fowler by Richard the Lion-heaited. ) 
"Genealogical INlemoir of Descendants of Ambrose F. and Captain 
William Fowler of New Haven. 1857,:' 27 pages. H. W. Dutton & 
Sons. -Wm. Fowler, the Magistrate of Milford, Ct.; 1639 to 1867. 
By Wm. Chauney Fowler." 12 pages. 'Our Predecessors and Their 
Descendants," by Robert Ludlow Fowler. 78 pages. 1889. Xew York. 
•Memoir of Descendants of Captain William Fowler of Xew Haven, 
Ct.:' 1870, by D. W. Fowler, 42 pages, Starr & Sons. Milwaukee." 

Mr. Fowler furthermore says : "My ancestors came from Frfderick 
County, Maiyland. to Ohio, in 1815; so far I have been unable to 
make any connection with either the Maryland or Connecticut 
Fowlers. ' There is a family tradition that my ancestors moved to 
Maryland from Xew Jersey, but I can not learn more as to that. 
This' is my family line: "Benj. Fowler, b. about 1720. wife Ales. — 
Pipe Creek. Md.! had sons John and James. John moved west. 
James, b. 5/9 1758, d. 1/31 1848: wife Mary Ogborn, descend, of 
Gustavus Adolphus; they had children: James. Caleb, b. 1792, 
d. 1861: Joseph. Sam"l.' Rebecca. Lydia, Sarah, Elizabeth. Ales. 
Caleb had sons. — Lindley M. and Chalkley T., the foiTaer had Addi- 
son J., b. 1860. m"d Adora Booth; issue, Irene, Ernest (he is a 
lawyer in Denver. Colo.) : the latter had Chas. E., b. Feb. 10. 1867, 
m'd Lucille H.. and had children. — Harold. Louise. Margaret, and 
Robert." * ^ 

THE WRIGHT FAMILY. EARLY SETTLERS OF RED RIVER 
COUXTY, TEXAS. 

[Written by George Wright for an old Texas Xewspaper. Found in 
A. J. Fowler"s "Family Scrap-book.""] 

"On March 5, 1816. Claiborne Wright shipped his family on board 
his keelboat called the Pioneer, in Smith County. Tennessee, just 
■above the mouth cf Clear Fork of the Cumberland River. His 
family consisted of himself, wife, two daughters, and four sons (Trav- 
is. George W., Columbus, and Alexander), with a negro servant girl, 
all destined for Pecan Point, on Red River. He had loaded on board 

iTo the foregoiag genealogical reference Mr. Chalkley adds the Douglas 
genealogy, with others already mentioned. 



320 APPENDIX. 



his boat, which was to be his habitation for months, breadstuffs and 
bacon sufficient for a two-years' supply. Among other indispensables 
were several good rifles and a large quantity of ammunition. He cut 
cable on March 5th, and floated down the Cumberland to the Ohio, 
thence to the Mississippi, then onward to the mouth of the Red, 
up that river to the 'great raft,' through that formidable obstruction 
to the mouth of Pecan Bayou, to the point called Pecan. We landed 
there on September 5th, having been on the way just half a year. 
The site of Memphis was then an Indian village; no whites living 
there at that time. Claiborne Wright had traveled on the first steam- 
boat when it made its trial trip on the Mississippi. 

"At Natchitoches, on Red River, Mr. W. met some old friends who 
told him it was impossible to get a boat through the great raft, as 
men on horseback crossed over on it as though it were a bridge. 
There seemed absolutely no hope of getting the Pioneer any farther 
on her way, but Mr. W. sought an Indian guide, for the native red 
man knew how to get his canoe over obstructed streams. He at last 
found one of the Pascagoula tribe, who said he had passed through 
the raft in his canoe, and who agreed to pilot the Pioneer through 
for a stipulated price. After three months of herculean labor, our 
'boathouse' was througn the almost impassable collection of tree- 
trunks and brush and out in the open river again. All were in fine 
spirits once more; the past three months we had seen nothing but 
a waste of water, the great mass of timber forming the obstruction, 
with countless alligators and mosquitoes. 

"The third day after leaving the raft we got to a village of 
Cooshatie Indians, who stole several hundred dollars worth of sup- 
plies from the boat. Not a white man nad been seen since we left 
camp. At Long Prairie we found four families, — Jolm Berry's and 
Morris May's, the others not remembered; we spent a few days 
there, finding it as beautiful a landscape as any we had seen. The 
lowlands of the Nile can not be any richer than this Red River 
land; Long Prairie is about twelve miles in lengtli and four in 
width, and is the garden spot, truly. It was at that time 250 miles 
above the raft, but the obstruction has been accumulating so near 
that the overflow has driven all of the planters from their homes. I 
have seen as many as twenty-seven gins in 'the Prairie,' working to 
their utmost capacity at the same time. (It was here that the 
writer, Mr. George W. Wright, was a very large planter for many 
years. ) 

"As the old boat, the Pioneer, moved up the river, its little com- 
pany of pioneers saw only a howling wilderness, until Dooley's Ferry 
was reached. There is a high point of land on which the Delaware 
Indians were living, with one white family, — that of Bob Musick. 
This was probably 200 miles from the last settlement, Long Prairie. 
From there further up the river was Pecan Point, where the Wil- 
mans and Colonel William Mabbit had established a trading house 
for the various tribes of Indians. All on board the Pioneer were 
sick, except Mr. Wright, the head of the family. W^e at once put 
up a cabin for shelter for the family, but how we subsisted Avith 
no horse, hog, or cow, and not an ear of corn in all the country, 
may seem a mystery to many. We lived on mid meat for two 
years, and without bread. After the second year fatjier raised some 
corn; we were never without corn bread after that. We had been 



APPENDIX. 321 



there but three weeks when the old Pioneer sprung a leak and settled 
in the river, settling the Wright family also, for there was no way 
to get away, as the nearest settlement was about 100 miles from 
us. It was about this time, I believe, when five families arrived and 
encamped on the landing. 

"The country was then under Spanish dominion and so continued 
until 1819, when the Mexicans succeeded in driving old Spain's 
troops from the territory, when we became subjects of the Mexican 
Republic. In 1818, some more families came to the neighborhood, 
bringing with them horses, cows, hogs, and seed corn. These settlers 
were: Walter Paul and four children, two sons and two daughters; 
Jonathan Coachman, wife, and one son; Charles Bookhem and 
family; Chambers Wright and family; Stephen Willey, with four 
sons, three of whom were Indian traders ; Colonel Mabbit had a 
family; the Wilmans had none then. Occasionally we had some 
single men who usually hunted for a living; among them I remem- 
ber Martin Vasmer, Henry Jones, John Cropton, George Crusim, 
Charles Campbell, and Bill inglish." 

In 1817, John Hopkins Fowler and his younger brother, Wiley 
Paul, made their voyage of discovery to Texas, making, I believe, 
no permanent settlement anywhere for a time. J. H. Fowler re- 
miained a citizen of Texas from that time, but his brother returned 
to Kentucky, to become an honored and prominent citizen in the 
State of his father's adoption. 

The following is from the Paris Advocate, March 6, 1898: "In 
1816 a family by the name of Wright moved from Tennessee to the 
Spanish province of Tehas, settling in the eastern part. Among 
their children was a boy then only four years old, — George W., — 
who afterwards founded Paris, Texas. Twenty years later, George 
W. had grown up and married and moved to this part of Red River 
County, which afterwards became Lamar County, and settled on a 
section of land now embraced within the corporate limits of Paris. 
Here Colonel Wright established a store, in connection with his 
farming interests. The county cf Lamar was formed in 1836; the 
town of Paris received its name in 1840; prior to that time it was 
called 'Pin Hook.' " 

Descendants of George Wright and his brothers live in this part 
of Texas, and are prosperous and honorable citizens. 

I beg pardon for here recounting a little incident with the hope 
that it may prove of sufficient interest to deserve its place. In June, 
1901, the Texas Woman's Press Association met in annual convention 
in Paris, Texas. The City Federation of Women's Clubs selected 
Mrs. Samuel J. Wright, wife of a son of Colonel George W. Wright, 
to deliver the address of welcome to the pen women of Texas, as 
she was at that time w^earing the honor of the presidency of the 
city federation of clubs. And the singular coincidence was that 
Mrs. J. J. Arthur of Austin was appointed by the president of the 
Press Association to respond to the welcoming address. Mrs. Arthur 
had been so long delving in family archives that she knew and felt 
the circumstances, the fact of being welcomed to the very town 
founded by a Wright, but whose first school was taught by her own 
father, A. J. Fowler, a first cousin to the founder. The little cross- 
roads store and settlement was at that time called Pin Hook in 
derision by a rival settlement of the high-sounding name of Vernon, 
21 — Fowler. 



322 APPENDIX. 



for the home of the great Washington. But Pin Hook thrived and 
won despite its name, and a daughter of one of its first citizens was 
welcomed to the old home by the wife of a son of the founder, — ^vas 
given the hand of cordial greeting to that part of Texas which 
belonged hj right of discoveiy, so to speak, to the descendants of 
both Wrights and Fowlers for the many and worthy parts they had 
taken in its civilization. 

When Mrs. Arthur rose to reply in the usual speech on such 
occasions, she was so forcibly impressed with all these — to her — 
interesting facts, that she voiced the thoughts she so keenly felt, 
touching here and there the salient facts only, and in the belief that 
she would prove recreant to the memoiy of her ancestry should she 
repel her heart's promptings. She and Mrs. Wright had never met 
before that day, but the coincidence served to bring the two together 
in bonds closer than an ordinary acquaintance. Several Fowlei 
descendants were present in the audience, descendants of Colonel 
John H. Fowler, the earliest member of the Fowler family who 
emigrated to "Tehas,'" and of other early "Pin Hookers." 

"Bastrop, Tex.. Aug. 25, 1897. — Mrs. Dora Fowler Arthur, Austin, 
Texas: My Dear Madam. — Your favor of the 23d instant was duly 
received. I take great pleasure in furnishing you all the informa- 
tion in my possession concerning my father's family. ]\Iy father's 
name was William Fowler; he was born in either Spartanburg or 
Laurens District (they are now counties), in South Carolina, in 1795. 
and he resided in one or the other of those districts and near the 
dividing line until 1853. when he moved to Travis County, Texas, 
where he resided until his deaths in 1867. 

"I understand (but I may be mistaken) that he had four full 
brothers, — Joel, Perry, George, and Sam, — and seven half brothers, 
of whom I can not recall a single name. My fathei's. father's name 
was Joel Fowler, and he was born in Wales, but came to America 
before the War of the Revolution. My father died when I was quite 
young and my mother died many years ago; I have no brothers or 
sisters or any relative known to me who could give me any further 
information; a part of the foregoing was obtained from an old 
negro woman who is now about ninety years of age and who be- 
longed to my father. 1 regret that my information is so meager and 
uncertain; if it could be relied on it seems I can not claim descent 
from your family of Fowlers. 

"There was a family of Fowlers residing in Spartanburg and 
Laurens districts, which was not related to my father's family 
originally, but finally became so by intermarriage. If I can discover 
any means of obtaining more definite information I shall gladly 
avail myself of the earliest opportunity^ and shall let you know at 
once. Yours respectfully, J. P. Fowler, 

"Attorney at Law, Bastrop, Texas." 

PERSONAL SKETCH OF HON. J. P. FOWLER OF BASTROP, 

TEXAS. 

He was born in Laurens County, South Carolina, March 11, 1850; 
came with his parents to Travis County, Texas, in the winter of 1853- 
'54, and lived near Webberville; was educated at the Webberville 
Academv and the Live Oak Academy, at Spencer's Business College 



APPENDIX. 323 



and Columbian College, Washington, U. C, taking his degree of 
Bachelor of Laws at Columbian College in 1870. 

He married on Janvuiry 2, 1872, Maud Maynard of Bastrop, 
daughter of C. B. Manard, deceased, ex-clerk of the district court, 
and sister of W. E. Maynard. ex-district attorney; he has seven 
living children (whose names and ages I failed to get). 

He was elected mayor of Bastrop in 1874, and served one term; 
was made county attorney in 1S80; in 1882, was elected State sena- 
tor from the district composed of Bastrop, Fayette, and Lee coun- 
ties, which he held four years; but having no taste for office-holding, 
he declined to stand for re-election. Since that time he has been 
actively engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. He is a 
collector of books, and has one of the finest private collections in 
the State. 

This Mr. Fowder is certainly akin to the Texas family of the 
same name, which came from South Carolina to Tennessee, thence 
to Texas, tnat of Captain Josiah Fowler of Burnet County. One link 
in the chain of evidence is the name of Pleasant, contracted to 
"Fet." How good is the old-fashioned name, together with Peaceful, 
Constance, Temperance, Thankful, etc. 

There is another Fowler family whose niche I am unable to find 
with the scarce data in hand. Mr. J. C. Fowler of Houston, a 
Confederate veteran, is a son of Henry Harrison Fowler of Kentucky, 
whose father was Richard Fowler of that State. In turning back 
to the early Fowlers of Kentucky from Virginia, one is inclined to 
the belief that the Alexander and John there chronicled must have 
been the ancestors of this branch of the name, as well as of the 
William Fowler of Kentucky, who has so many descendants in this 
State. 

THE JOSIAH FOWLER LINE OF TEXAS. 

Mrs. J. Walter Quebedeaux of Austin, Texas, was a Miss Emma 
Burnam of Burnet County, Texas. She is a daughter of Sarah Jane 
(Fowler) and Jesse Bennett Burnam; the latter, born March 15, 
1831, was the youngest child of Captain Jesse Burnam, w^ho was a 
conspicuous figure among the Texas pioneers of his part of the 
State- Mrs. Quebedeaux is authority for the following data. 

Josiah Fowler and his brother Abijah Fowler were authors of 
"Fowlers Arithmetic,"' wdiicli was much used in Tennessee and other 
Southern States in our grandfathers' day, 1830 or 1840. They w^ere 
sons of Dr. Thomas Fowler and Mary Baldridge,- who had children 
here named: 

1. Dr. Thomas F., Jr., married Priscilla Chapman. (See Hon. 
Isaac Chapman line.) 

2. John F., married Sallie Davis of Tennessee. 

3. Mary Ann, married L. D. Alexander of Tennessee. 

«John Baldridge, the father of Mary, was born in Ireland, and came to Amer- 
ica at maturity. He was a weaver by trade. He married "Peggy" (Margaret) 
Faris, and they had fifteen children. It was through the Baldridge line that 
the Fowler descendants endeavored to lay claim to the bequest of Lord Wil- 
liam Holmes, which has so long been accumulating in the Bank of England, but 
there is a missing link somewhere. 



324 APPENDIX. 



4. Samuel, married Faiibion of Tennessee and moved to 

Indiana. 

5. Dolly, married Jacob Maloy of Tennessee. 

0. Levi, married Dinela Huff of Missouri, died in Texas. 

7. Abijali, born 1808, died in Monroe County, Tennessee, 1880; 
married Elizabeth Cureton of Tennessee. 

8. Josiah, born July 16, 1811 ; married Rebecca M. Yett, October, 
1837; she was born June 27. 1814, died in Belton, Texas, March 1, 
1890. Josiah, died July 4, 1888, at his home in Salado, Bell County, 
Texas. 

9. Dr. Francis F., born September 26, 1813; married Jane 
Malony, December 28, 1837; died in Greenville, Tenn., October 1, 
1840. Attended medical lectures at Transylvania University, Ken- 
tucky, 

Josiah Fowler, with mfe and several children, came to Texas in 
1854 and settled in Burnet County, on the Colorado River, when 
Austin,^ the Capital, was the nearest village, forty miles distant. 
There they reared a family of ten. Four of their sons went to the 
Civil War, the youngest being hardl}- seventeen, and served the 
Confederacy three years. One son, Lieutenant Pleasant A. Fowler, 
was killed instantly in an engagement with Federal gunboats at 
Blair's Landing, La., while serving under General Tom Green. An- 
other son, Colonel Thomas Newton Fowler, the eldest, of Mobile, 
Ala., was shot fourteen inches through the body, and his cavalry 
boots were filled with blood; he was thought to be dead when carried 
off the field. Afterward, he was commissioned major-general by 
the Governor of Alabama. General Fowler was graduated from the 
Emory and Hemy College of Virginia in 1850; he died in 1886 or 
1887, at his home in jNlobile. Another son of Josiah and Rebecca 
(Yett) Fowler is Hon. William J. Fowler of Eve's Mills, Monroe 
County, East Tennessee. Fourth son, Hannon, residing at Liberty 
Hill, Williamson County, Texas; Wesley, residing at Double Horn, 
Burnet County, at the old Josiah Fowler residence; Frank Fowler 
is the youngest son^ and lives in Cincinnati, O. 

The daughters were Sarah Jane, Mary Priscilla, Laura (married 
P. Hammersmith, lives in Belton ) , Cora ( married J. Morton Smith, 
lives in Belton, Texas, also), and Graves. Mary Priscilla Fowler 
was married to the Rev. George W. Graves, son of a local Methodist 
preacher in Copiah County, Mississippi; born July 4, 1839. They 
were married May 23, 1866, at the home of Captain Fowler, "Rock- 
vale," in Burnet County; they had: 

1. Marvin L. Graves, educated at the Southwestern University, 
Georgetown, Texas, and Bellevue Medical College, New York City; 
is a practicing physician of Waco, Texas; married Laura Vashti 
Ghent, daughter of Dr. H. C. Ghent of Belton, Texas; she is a 
graduate of the class of '88 at Ward Seminary, Nashville, Tenn. 

2. Flora E., married to Edward McCullough of McLennan County, 
Texas. 

3. George W., Jr., graduated with distinction in his class in 
Southwestern LTniversity; married Kate, daughter of Hon. W. L. 
Davidson, judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, Georgetown, May 
10, 18 — ; is a prominent young lawyer of Waco, Texas. The re- 
maining children are J. Henry, Minnie B., Eugene Fowler, Ralph A., 
Newton M., Pet (for Pleasant), and Gladys G. 



APPENDIX. 325 



Rev. G. W. Graves died June 11, 18—, deeply lamented by his 
Georgetown neighbors and the Texas Conference. His widow and 
younger children continue to reside in Georgetown, Texas. 

Mrs. Quebedeaux is a bright, interesting little woman. Her only 
child, Arnim, is a manly son of some twelve years, a handsome and 
attractive boy; has served the last two sessions of the Texas Legis- 
lature as page of the Senate. 

John Fowler of Greenville District, South Carolina, and Wiley 
Young Fowler of Texas. John was born March 7, 1791; married 
Elizabeth Moore of Laurens District, about the year 1822; he died 
December 5, 1847. His wife was born in 1792, died 1872. They had 
sons: Wade Alexander, born 1823; Wiley Y^ung, born September 
12, 1825; he lives in Burnet County, Texas, a venerated old man; 
John Faris, born 1827, died 1871; Wesley Williamson, born 1831, 
killed in the Confederate army; daughters: Emeline, born 1829; 
Louisa, born 1833, died 1841. ' 

Wade Alexander Fowler married and had Louisa, Maston, Dexter 
Florida, Josephine, and Dr. Wade Fowler, of Laurens and Green- 
ville counties, South Carolina. 

Wiley Young Fowler married Mary Jane Yett, March 23, 1848; 
they had Rebecca McCamie, born January 5, 1849; Francis Chapman, 
born June 9, 1851; Robert Burnam, born October 10, 1855; Josiah 
Moore, born May 25, 1858; Mary Lou, born August 24, 1860, died 
1898: Ada Pet, born November 30, 1863. The last mentioned is 
unmarried and lives at home with her parents, the light and joy of 
their declining years. 

My object in giving place to different branches of the Fowler name 
is to help the lost descendants to "discover themselves" with the 
aid of the guide posts here given, for the land of Fowler genealogy 
in the South is so wild and untraversed by any plain or well-marked 
path, some early explorer should at least "blaze the way" in order | 
that others may have some clue to follow, however dim and vague { 
it may be. 

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS TO THE "ANNALS OF THE FOWLER 

FAMILY." 

This list is given because the fond hope is indulged by the compiler 
that after generations will appreciate this genealogical record as it 
should be, for the labor has been great in the new and unworked 
field: 

1. Emmett W. Smith, lawyer, Nacogdoches, Texas. 

1. Dr. Woolam Ira M. Smith, physician, Nacogdoches, Texas. 

1. Rev. Ellis Smith, Methodist minister, Crockett, Texas. 

1, Mrs. Pack (Mary Ellen Smith), Chireno, Nacogdoches County, 
Texas. 
^ 1. Mrs. Weeks (Clara Belle Smith), Chireno, Texas. 

1. Mrs. Edward G, Gibbons (Dorothy Fowler), Paris, Texas. 

4. Mrs. William A. Arthur (Delia Fowler), Texarkana, Texas. 

1. Mrs. Robert E. Harris (Johnetta Fowler), Temple, Texas. 

1. Miss Nora Estelle Fowler, Paris, Texas. 

4. Saunders Augustus Fowler, Paducah, Ky. 



32« APPENDIX. 



2. Hon. Isaac Chapman Fowler, clerk U. S. court, Abingdon, Va. 
1. Hon. J. P. Fowler, attorney at law, Bastrop, Texas. 
1. Hon. Godfrey B. Fowler, Jonesville, Union County, South 
Carolina. 

1. Miss Irene Fowler Brown, Buntyn, Shelby County, Tennessee. 

1. Mrs. Ginsey Cosby (Fowler) Taylor, 266 S. Seventh St., San 
Jose, Cal. 

5. Wilfred M. Taylor, Manila, Philippine Islands. 

2. James Edward Wheeler, Yreka, Siskiyou County, California. 
2. Mrs. G. H. Warneken (Clara Given Fowler), Clarksville, Tenn. 
2. Cline Wilson, art student in New York, from Russellville, Ky. 
1. Mrs. Charles A. Chappell (Mattie Wilson), Cadiz, Ky. 

1. Little Miss Laura Fowler, daughter Rev. L. M. Fowler, Athens, 
Texas. 

L Mrs. J. C. Howard (Mary Belle Fowler), Longview, Texas. 

1. Walter Preston Stradlev, lawver, San Francisco, Cal. it^- 

1. Mrs. W. W. Holding (Columbia Fowler), Wake Forest, Wake^" 
County, North Carolina. 

1. Dr. Josiah Crudup Fowler, physician. Wake Forest, N. C. 

L Mrs. J. L. Allen (Rosa Fowler), Forestville, Wake County, 
North Carolina. 

L Mrs. Alex. McKeithen (Mary Fowler), Aberdeen, Moore 
County, North Carolina. 

L Mrs. R. H. Woolfolk (Nellie Wilson), San Antonio, Texas. 

2. Mrs. R. Peterson (Susan Clara Fowler), Paris, Texas. 
1. James Littleton Wilson, Seligman, Ariz. 

1. Mrs. Henry L, Given (Laura Fowler), Rand Avenue, Lexing- 
ton, Ky. 

1. Miss Janie Warren, Brown wood, lexas. 

1. John W. Stovall, Stovall, Coahoma County, Mississippi (mer- 
chant and planter ) . 

1 Mrs. Lydia (Powell) Ray, Marystown, Johnson County, Texas. 

1. David H. Fowler, planter, Longtown, Panola County, Mis- 
si.:.3-ppi. 

1. -Captain Joe H. Fowler, capitalist, Paducah, Ky. 

L Mrs. Mildred Glenn (Fowler) Davis (Dr. F. Davis, deceased), 
Paducah, Ky. 

1. Given Fowler^ Paducah, Ky. 

2. Mrs. Josephine (Fowler) Post (E. M. Post, deceased), Padu- 
cah, Ky. 

1. William Hilary Greer, Box 16, Paris, Tenn. 

1. Mrs. Mary E. (Greer) Hastings, Springville, Henry County, 
Tennessee. 

\. Stonewall Jackson Dunn. Van Dyck, Henry County, Tennessee. 

\. Richmond J. Fowler, Paris^ Tenn. 

L J. Alex. Austin, Memphis, Tenn. 

L Joseph Edwin Fowler, Denning, Franklin County, Arkansas. 

L Mrs. Mary J. Ezzell, Greenfield, Weakley County, Tennessee. 

2. Godfrey Rees Fowler, lawyer, Palestine, Texas. 

1. J. W\ White, grocer, Greenfield, Weakley County, Tennessee. 
1. Dr. Joseph Godfrey Fowler, physician, Christmasville, Carroll 
County, Tennessee. 



APPENDIX. 327 



1. Mrs. Araminta (Fowler) Criibbs, Gage, Ballard County. Ken- 
tucky. 

1. George W. Swor, dealer in general merchandise, Owen's Hill, 
Tennessee. 

1. Fletcher Norton, Waxahachie, Texas. 

1. Mrs. Roenier Johnson, Tacaleechie, Benton County, Mississippi. 

1. Mrs. E. P. Coleman (Lyde Lou Caruthers), Como, Panola 
County, Mississippi 

1. Miss Florence Grubbs, Killeen, Bell County, Texas. 

1. Hon. T. G. Fowler, Uniontowij, Ala. 

1. James A. Fowler, Friendship, Marshall County, Alabama. 

1. John Fowler Musgrove, Bangor, Blount Countj^ Alabama. 

1. Ernest H. Chalkley, Richmond, Va. 

7. Rev. Littleton M. Fowler, Athens, Texas. 

FAREWELL. 

"Grow old along with me. 
The best is yet to be, 

The last of life, for which the first was made; 
Our times are in His hand 
Who saith^ 'A whole 1 planned, 
Youth shows but half; trust God: 
See all, nor be afraid!' 



All that is, at all, 

Lasts ever, past recall; 

Earth changes, but thy soul and God stand sure: 

What entered into thce^ 

That was, is, and shall be: 

Time's wheel runs back or stops: 

Potter and clay endure. 



So, take and use Thy work. 
Amend what flaws may lurk, 

What strain o' the stuff, what warping past the aim! 
My times be in Thy hand! 
Perfect the cup as jilanned! 

Let age approve of youth, and death complete the same!" 

— [Broioning. 



MAY 31 1902 






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